The answer to why the warehouse robotics market is growing
Robotics and automation have become an essential part of our lives, as today, we find that every segment is utilizing such high-end automation tools at its best. The warehouse is one of the best examples where high-end advanced robotics is used.
The term “warehouse robotics” refers to the practice of moving materials, carrying out various tasks, and streamlining and automating warehouse processes through automated systems, robots, and specialized software.
A warehouse Robotics has a number of goods and products stored and is an important aspect of logistics. The inventory system is totally operated through such big warehouses where the stocks are maintained and dispatched upon demand from the end consumers.
There are several types of robots used in warehouses; you can find high-end robots that roam around the warehouses scanning the barcodes and SKUs and recording the inventory status in the system managing the inventories in real-time. Also, delivery robots are used to pick up a certain product according to the SKU or stock-keeping unit and deliver it to the delivery station for further dispatch.
There has been a recent uptick in the number of warehouses installing various robotic technology forms. The market for warehouse robots was estimated to be worth USD 13.35 billion by the year 2030, with an astonishing growth rate of 13.5%.
Types of Warehouse Robots
The warehouse robotics sector encompasses a wide variety of warehouse robots, each of which is designed to perform a specific task or series of tasks, such as order picking or transporting inventory to different locations inside the warehouse. The different kinds of warehouse robots are listed out below.
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) —
Automated storage and retrieval systems robots automate the inventory process by obtaining things for use or shipment and putting them back in the correct storage locations after they have been used. Cranes and shuttles that move between racks using a fixed tracking system are two examples of AS/RS solutions. Cranes can retrieve goods from between aisles, while shuttles can move between racks.
Goods-to-Person(G2P) —
In a manner analogous to that of AS/RS, goods-to-person picking robots are incorporated into G2P technology. These robots transport products to picking stations, where operators are stationed to fulfill orders as the items are transported. These are found to be extremely helpful for delivery persons as these robots pick the item from the stores or picking stations and deliver it to the person without any errors.
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) –
These are responsible for moving inventory from one area in the warehouse to another. Some examples of AGVs include self-driving forklifts. Tracks or magnetic strips can be installed in predetermined travel pathways for AGVs, and they are sometimes linked with sensors or camera vision technologies to help the vehicles navigate around obstacles.
Automated Guided Carts (AGCs) —
Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and AGCs are frequently categorized together under the same heading. The primary distinction is that AGCs are designed to handle far less weight compared to AGVs. These robots follow the guidelines instructed to them and operate on the same path or track in the warehouse.
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) —
Autonomous mobile robots function in a manner that is analogous to that of AGVs and AGCs in that they are tasked with the responsibility of transporting materials and inventory within a warehouse on their own.
AMRs, in contrast to AGCs and AGVs, which follow predetermined paths guided by tracks or magnetic strips, rely on maps and sensors to traverse more flexible paths by reading their surroundings.
One subcategory of autonomous mobile robots is known as the autonomous inventory robot. When employed with equipment and objects equipped with RFID tags, autonomous inventory robots are able to conduct inventory counts at periods or intervals that have been predetermined. In this category, collaborative mobile robots are also included. These robots complement the work of humans by providing colleagues with guidance while they complete tasks.
Articulated Robotic Arms —
In the warehouse, things are moved and lifted using robotic limbs with many joints and articulated robotic arms. In production contexts, they are often used for receiving operations, such as moving products from pallets to racks, picking and packaging, and for shipping. In addition, they may be used for transporting items from one location to another.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles —
Also known as drones, unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs), enable real-time inventory visibility within warehouses when outfitted with RFID technology. These are way too popular these days with their agility and faster and error-free services.
The reason behind the boost of the warehouse robotics industry
Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are two examples of recent technological advancements that robotics experts have labored diligently to incorporate with existing automated robotics technology over the course of decades.
Innovative businesses that include warehouses in their supply chains are thrilled with the results that can be brought about by effective automation. But what is it that gives robots the ability to function independently in warehouses? In the first place, there are three things:
- AI and machine learning
- Improved sensing capabilities with advanced Sensors and the ability to react
- Software is known as WMS
With these three elements, the warehouse robotics industry is doing wonders and making this market a big revenue earner globally.
With such advent advanced robotics, the global warehouse robotics market is said to have an amazing growth rate during the forecast period that ends in the year 2030 and will have a significant growth rate, which will eventually make this segment of the industry grow and soon to be in the list of top revenue-generating markets globally.