Such has been the pace of recent warehouse truck automation that a new word is entering the lexicon of materials handling nomenclature – robolution. While warehouse truck automation has been around since the 1970s its evolutionary progress has hardly been revolutionary in its developmental pace. Today, however, that is changing as the pace accelerates to robotise the trucks while not losing any flexibility one currently finds with fixed guidance trucks like AGVs. The driving force is to cut costs and hasten deliveries in a world transformed by online shopping that demands nextday or even same-day deliveries. Automation could also ease any concerns over attracting and retaining enough experienced labour.
The latest example of this automated truck trend is Amazon’s deal with the French robotics firm, Balyo, which allows Amazon to take a 29% stake in the company over the next seven years if it gives Balyo orders worth up to 300 million Euro over that period. This follows on a much larger deal exercised by Amazon back in 2012 when it bought Kiva’s AGV systems for lateral goods movements for $755 million.
Balyo does not produce AGV hardware. Instead it provides intelligence to standard- made trucks from truck leaders like Linde, Yale and Hyster who already incorporate the technology in their trucks ranging from pallet to reach and stacker trucks. This intelligence relies on a geo-guidance system which recognises the internal fixtures of buildings, like walls, columns and racks to enable trucks to self-locate in real time, performing all types of tasks in total autonomy from the simplest to most complex. It is much superior to the more conventional AGV guidance systems based on energised buried wires and laser reflector navigation systems. While precise, such guidance systems lack flexibility, and installing and subsequently altering them remains very costly. With both manual and automated dual control at all times, and an ability to scan barcodes, these trucks could deliver an ROI in under 12 months, claims Balyo, if used 24 hours a day, five days a week.
The need to offer agile systems to meet rising demand is also reflected in the recent partnership between DS Automation and SSI Schaefer. This will bring benefits like increased variance of AGV vehicle types, increased expertise in navigation technology and comprehensive project management. DS Automation also automates mass-produced vehicles. For SSI the benefit of the tie-up will allow them new market access.
One benefit from such truck automation that may have been overlooked is the safety issue, especially when companies need to take on temporary staff during peak times. Totally autonomous, fully flexible forklifts that can handle the most complex tasks would see a welcome fall in accidents and a lower cost of training new recruits, which is not cheap. Training companies, therefore, might like to ponder their future.
CHARLES SMITH
Feature Writer
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