https://xbots.com.my Collaborating Beyond Boundaries Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:40:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://xbots.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cropped-Logo-transparent-32x32.png Robot Application – XBOTS https://xbots.com.my 32 32 Can Robots Fix the Warehouse Worker Shortage? ProMat 2025 Says Yes https://xbots.com.my/2025/07/11/can-robots-fix-the-warehouse-worker-shortage-promat-2025-says-yes/ Fri, 11 Jul 2025 06:44:28 +0000 https://xbots.com.my/?p=30557

The cavernous halls of McCormick Place in Chicago played host to ProMat 2025, a sprawling testament to the relentless innovation shaping the future of manufacturing and supply chain. This year’s exhibition, held from March 17th to 20th, resonated with a palpable urgency, driven by a challenge that casts a long shadow over the industry: the persistent and intensifying labor shortage in warehousing and logistics. While ProMat has always been a showcase of cutting-edge technology, the 2025 edition felt particularly focused on solutions designed to alleviate the strain on human capital, with robotics taking center stage as a powerful and increasingly viable answer. The warehousing and logistics sector has been grappling with a growing labor crisis for years, a situation exacerbated by factors ranging from an aging workforce and demanding physical labor to increased e-commerce volumes and evolving worker expectations. High turnover rates, recruitment difficulties, and the sheer volume of work required to keep supply chains flowing have created a critical need for automation. ProMat 2025 served as a crucial platform for businesses seeking tangible solutions to this pressing issue, and the sheer number and sophistication of robotic offerings were a clear indication of the industry’s direction.

The Rise of Warehouse Robotics: A Multifaceted Approach

Robotics in the warehouse is no longer a futuristic concept; it is a rapidly evolving reality, offering a spectrum of solutions tailored to various operational needs. ProMat 2025 provided a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art, highlighting several key areas where robotics is making significant inroads in addressing labor challenges:

Dense Storage Solutions: Maximizing Space and Automation

With warehouse space at a premium and the need for efficient storage increasing, dense storage solutions integrated with robotics are gaining significant traction. Robotic Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) were prominently featured, demonstrating their ability to maximize storage density while automating the putaway and retrieval of goods. These systems, often utilizing vertical space and intricate robotic movements, reduce the need for extensive aisle space and manual picking, thereby minimizing labor requirements and increasing throughput. The integration of sophisticated software allows for optimized storage strategies and faster order fulfillment, directly addressing the need for efficiency in the face of labor constraints.

Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMRs): Intelligent Movement and Task Execution

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) have emerged as a versatile solution for a wide range of warehouse tasks. Unlike traditional Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) that rely on fixed pathways, AMRs utilize advanced sensors, cameras, and mapping software to navigate autonomously around obstacles and optimize routes in dynamic warehouse environments. ProMat 2025 showcased AMRs performing tasks such as goods-to-person picking, transporting materials, and even assisting with pallet movement. Their flexibility and ability to adapt to changing layouts and tasks make them a powerful tool for augmenting human labor and improving overall efficiency. By taking over repetitive and physically demanding transportation tasks, AMRs free up human workers for more complex and value-added activities.

Aerial Inventory Management: The Eyes in the Sky

While still a developing area, drone technology for warehouse inventory management was also present at ProMat 2025, highlighting its potential to address the time-consuming and often hazardous task of manual inventory checks. Autonomous drones equipped with cameras and scanning technology can navigate warehouse aisles, capture inventory data, and identify discrepancies with greater speed and accuracy than human workers. This technology not only reduces the labor required for inventory management but also provides real-time insights into stock levels, minimizing errors and improving overall inventory accuracy.

Robotic Picking: Precision and Versatility in Order Fulfillment

The picking process, a labor-intensive and often error-prone aspect of warehousing, is a prime target for robotic automation. ProMat 2025 featured a diverse array of robotic picking solutions, ranging from stationary robotic arms integrated with vision systems to mobile robots equipped with grasping capabilities. These robots are increasingly sophisticated, capable of handling a wide variety of items with different shapes, sizes, and textures. Advanced AI and machine learning algorithms enable them to identify and grasp items accurately, improving order fulfillment speed and reducing picking errors, directly mitigating the impact of labor shortages in this critical area. Collaborative robots (cobots), designed to work safely alongside human workers, also presented a compelling option for augmenting picking tasks and reducing the physical strain on employees.

A Walk Through Innovation Alley: Booth Highlights

My exploration of the ProMat 2025 exhibition floor provided a tangible understanding of the robotic solutions poised to tackle the labor crisis. Here are summaries of the key displays from the booths I visited:

: Focused on their M5F AMR, highlighting its versatility and applications in warehouse automation, particularly for brownfield implementations.

XYZ Robotics: Showcased their advanced AI-driven robotic picking systems, emphasizing their ability to handle diverse SKUs with high accuracy and seamless integration with other warehouse technologies.

Universal Robots: Emphasized the versatility and ease of use of their collaborative robots (cobots) for various material handling tasks, integrated with a robust UR+ ecosystem.

ForwardX Robotics: Displayed their comprehensive range of vision-based AMRs, including the Flex 600-LS, Apex C1500-L, and Max 1500-L, highlighting their AI-powered navigation and integrated logistics capabilities.

Seegrid: Featured their advanced AMR solutions, particularly the Lift CR1 AMR for high-lift applications, and their “Sliding Scale Autonomy” concept for flexible automation.

Geek+: Showcased their high-density storage solutions and goods-to-person robotics, emphasizing scalability and practical steps for warehouse modernization.

EXOTEC Technologies: Highlighted their next-generation Skypod AS/RS, emphasizing end-to-end automation and scalability.

Ambi Robotics: Demonstrated their AI-powered robotic picking solutions, including AmbiSort and AmbiStack, emphasizing dexterity and precision in handling diverse items.

Tompkins Robotics: Showcased their flexible and efficient tSort robotic sortation systems, adaptable to various warehouse layouts and scalable for changing needs.

Pickle Robot: Conducted live demonstrations of their robotic truck unloading solutions, emphasizing their ability to handle messy piles and the use of “Physical AI.”

KUKA: Unveiled their KMP 3000P heavyweight AMR and demonstrated integrated robotic cells combining AMRs with industrial robots and cobots for enhanced efficiency.

Autostore: Focused on their high-density cube storage AS/RS, highlighting partnerships with Kardex and Element Logic to provide integrated automation solutions.

Berkshire Grey: Showcased their AI-powered robotic picking solutions, the V3 Robotic Put Wall, and the RPSi robotic package sortation system, emphasizing end-to-end automation.

Agility Robotics: Demonstrated the capabilities of their humanoid robot, Digit, performing autonomous tasks like tote loading and unloading, highlighting the potential of humanoid robots in material handling.

Brightpick: Provided live demonstrations of their Brightpick Autopicker for in-aisle robotic picking and order consolidation, emphasizing its versatility and AI-powered vision.

Hai Robotics: Displayed their HaiPick Climb system for goods-to-person automation in existing warehouses and the HaiPick System 3 for high-density storage and throughput.

Attabotics: Highlighted their 3D robotic AS/RS and their new “Fulfill” AI-orchestrated fulfillment software, emphasizing efficiency and density.

Slip Robotics: Showcased their SlipBot automated loading robots for truck loading and unloading, emphasizing speed, safety, and ease of integration without IT infrastructure changes.

SEER Robotics: Debuted their SPT-1000 autonomous pallet truck with AI-powered pallet recognition and showcased their SRC robot controllers and software solutions.

MyBull Intelligent Machinery: Demonstrated their range of AMR solutions, including autonomous tow tractors and unmanned forklifts for various industrial logistics applications.

Libiao Robotics: Featured their AMR-based parcel sortation systems, emphasizing flexibility, scalability, and high-speed, accurate sorting capabilities.

Corvus Robotics: Showcased their autonomous drone system for inventory management, highlighting their integration partnership with Honeywell and the use of computer vision.

Lab0: Debuted their fully autonomous RoboGlide warehouse system for end-to-end inbound logistics, emphasizing its humanoid-inspired design and AI-powered vision and motion planning.

Yaskawa: Displayed a comprehensive range of industrial robots and cobots for material handling and logistics, highlighting their Pallet Builder software and various application-specific solutions.

Gather AI: Introduced their MHE Vision AI-driven camera system for real-time material handling visibility and analytics, emphasizing warehouse digitization.

Plus One Robotics: Focused on their advanced palletizing and depalletizing solutions, highlighting their partnership with beRobox and the launch of their new Partner Portal.

FANUC: Presented a wide range of robotic solutions for warehousing and logistics, including mobile robotic order fulfillment, full-layer depalletizing, and tote consolidation.

Locus Robotics: Introduced LocusINTELLIGENCE AI-driven business intelligence software and showcased their Locus Array fully robotic zero-touch fulfillment system.

Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA): Featured their OSRS, the debut of the Porter AMR, the Chuck AMR, and OCADEX robotic pick arms, emphasizing integrated automation solutions.

Oceaneering Mobile Robotics (OMR): Showcased their MaxMover and UniMover AMRs for industrial applications and strategies for seamless AMR integration.

Zebra Technologies Displayed their end-to-end solutions for warehouse and supply chain optimization, including mobile computers, barcode scanners, RFID, AMRs, vision systems, and software.

Multiway Robotics: Highlighted their advanced AMR forklift solutions, including the X20S, SE15, and Q20 models, emphasizing versatility and heavy-duty capabilities.

Anyware Robotics: Won the MHI Innovation Award for their Pixmo Mobile Robot designed for autonomous truck unloading and palletization.

]]> Understanding the Various Kinds of AGVs and AMRs industry insider https://xbots.com.my/2025/07/07/the-diversity-heavy-lifter-in-agvs-and-amrs/ Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:21:31 +0000 https://xbots.com.my/?p=30523

Looking for the latest innovations in automated material handling? We’ve rounded up the latest crop of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs).

Lift RS1 AMR: Seegrid’s vision-guided autonomous lift truck is capable of a 6-foot lift height and has a payload capacity of 3,500 pounds. The RS1 features Seegrid’s Sliding Scale Autonomy, which combines the agility of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and the predictability of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). This allows the truck to navigate differently based on what is best suited for the specific customer application at hand.

Stretch: Boston Dynamics’ Stretch autonomous robot unloads floor-loaded trailers and shipping containers, keeping the flow of goods moving in warehouses. The AMR can unload continuously for up to 16 hours, move hundreds of cases per hour, up to 50 pounds, and grasp multiple cases at once. Stretch is operating in the field with customers including DHL, Gap, H&M, Otto Group, Maersk, and NFI.

Geek+ SkyCube: The pallet-to-person solution combines upper-level storage and ground-level picking technology. The multilevel storage and retrieval system can increase warehouse throughput, storage capacity, operational flexibility, and integrate with intelligent equipment (unstacking machine, automatic wrapper or packer, robotic arm, etc.) to realize an unmanned smart warehouse

A10 Flexible Forklift: Muratec’s A10 Flexible Forklift is a versatile AGV that can streamline materials handling in dynamic warehouse environments. With a maximum lift height of 32 feet and a 3,300-pound load capacity, it navigates narrow aisles, optimizes storage, and automates load transfers. Featuring multiple navigation options, including laser guidance, the A10 adapts to warehouse layouts without disrupting infrastructure.

OMRON LD Series Robots: The LD Series AMRs from OMRON now work with wireless charging technology from Wiferion. The inductive charging technology enables fast charging up to 60amps and charges the AMRs from the underside without interrupting work processes. RAMP, a Samuel Automation company and integrator, recently implemented the technology at an automotive manufacturing facility.

Simplimatic AMR: The AMR from Signode is an integrated system with a mobile platform and collaborative robotics. Featuring self-guided navigation, it adapts to existing facility layouts and reroutes around obstacles for uninterrupted material flow. With high load capacity, automatic charging capabilities, and a compact footprint, the customizable solution can work in tandem with the Simplimatic robotic palletizer and depalletizer to handle diverse loads

Dematic Goods-to-Person AMRs: The D30 Tote Mover AMR (left) and D50 Masted Tote Shuttle AMR (right) optimize order fulfillment with the goods-to-person approach. The Tote Mover AMR streamlines tote transport, offering precision and eliminating single points of failure. The Masted Tote Shuttle AMR offers high-speed, automated storage and retrieval capabilities measuring up to approximately 40 feet high.

HaiPick Climb: The new HaiPick Climb system from Hai Robotics is built around the HaiClimber robot (below), an intelligent, compact climbing robot. HaiPick Climb operates by attaching climbing channels to one side of nearly any industry-standard racking. Robots travel up and down these channels, retrieving totes from both sides of narrow aisles. With the HaiClimber robots traveling at a speed of 13 feet per second and climbing at 3 feet per second, the HaiPick Climb system can process 4,000 totes per hour within a 1,000-square-meter (10,764-square-foot) space.

Yale Relay Automated Lift Trucks: Yale Relay automated lift trucks don’t require custom code or intensive engineering. A drag-and-drop portal allows for implementation in as little as one day and gives warehouses the control to make changes on the fly. The rental model is designed to offer financial flexibility and a clear return on investment, supporting deployment without a large capital outlay or hidden costs.

Xbots: this is the immortal robot, no matter manual handle or rely on it program

]]> Business Insider: Facing Labor Shortage? Use Robot! https://xbots.com.my/2025/05/15/business-insider-facing-labor-shortage-use-robot/ Thu, 15 May 2025 02:39:34 +0000 https://xbots.com.my/?p=28232

The covid-19 pandemic period really brings a lot of problems to everyone. The current outbreaks has had severe economic consequences across the globe, and it does not look like any country will be unaffected. This not only has consequences for the economy; all of society is affected, which has led a dramatic changes in how businesses act and consumer behave.

During the pandemic, a lot of manufacture are facing labor shortage issue. The increasing of minimum wages and others costs also affecting the employer to hire people to run the production. Hence, many manufactures start deploying both collaborative and industrial robot to replace human.

Robot could help in perform a wide variety of functions; from welding, painting, assembly & disassembly, handling, loading & unloading, palletizing, tightening screw, sanding, deburring and many more. The old traditional industrial robot can only work on its own without human in its working area. The cost to implement the systems also is high since many considerations need to be taken; such fencing, safety area etc in order to avoid any incident.

But now, technology had evolved. Collaborative robot, familiar being called as Cobot are ideal for marrying the work of human and technology. They focus on collaboration and teamwork, with features to make workers’ job easier and faster. Cobot are not meant to replace human even though it can works individually, but cobot could comes in handy.

Cobot helps to accomplish jobs include those that are repetitive, hazardous, tedious to human or when lack of workers. Safety, versatility and assistance are the key features in the design of a cobot. This robot is smart and learns on the job, understanding the movement of items and speeds as it adjusts to the world around it. Cobot is easy to handle, it can be integrated with a lot of things and can involved in many applications. It comes with lighter-weight load capacities, offers exceptional agility and speed which perfect for task that require 100% accuracy with faster results.

Below are just some of the benefits that a COBOT can offer:
1. Partnership and Collaborating with Humans.
2. Ease of Use and Training.
3. Easy to Program.
4. Versatility and Functionality.
5. Increased Safety.
6. Fast and Easy Setup.
7. Increased Productivity.
8. Cost-Effective

Now, many System Integrator started to utilize the versatility of cobot. There are many application had been done including combining the cobot with Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) or/and Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR ). This systems extended the usage of cobot. The robot can moves around by AGV/AMR doing various task with minimum supervision.

Cobot are powerhouse for added productivity in workplace. From eliminating repetitive taks to offering faster, more accurate results with its 6-axis arms, they can improve operational performance in a myriad of ways. Plus, cobot can make the job safer for employees as it can work along with human side by side and taking over dangerous tasks from workers.

]]>