Pilot tests of an autonomous mobile stacker robot were conducted at the Severstal-Metiza site in Cherepovets. It simplifies the loading and unloading of pallets in a warehouse, speeds up inventory, and takes into account the specifics of the industrial area when moving. The testing was carried out by experts from Severstal-Infocom and Severstal-Metiza, as well as specialists from Robotic Transport Systems.
The stacker robot belongs to the category of autonomous mobile robots (AMR, Autonomous Mobile Robot). Unlike automated AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) vehicles, the AMR travels in a fully autonomous format without additional infrastructure and does not require the introduction of magnetic and other tapes, reference points or other guiding elements to adjust the route. In particular, thanks to a more advanced environmental perception system, the stacker robot is able to adapt more flexibly to external conditions, using sensors, cameras, stereo cameras, and various types of lidars. In addition, autonomous mobile robots use various unique algorithms, including those based on neural network technologies, which makes it possible to eliminate various heterogeneities typical of industrial conditions.
At the Severstal-Metiza warehouse, the robot loaded and unloaded the europallets as part of the target route, which included movement both in the warehouse and in the workshop. Due to autonomous movement, it became possible to increase the speed of cargo handling and increase labor productivity. The stacker has also proven compliance with the rules of functional industrial safety: it automatically detects obstacles and people and stops in front of them, notifies them with an approach signal and thereby reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. The QR and barcode scanning function and the integration of the robot software with the company's WMS and MES systems increase the efficiency of the inventory process, as well as other logistics operations.
"The use of AMR technologies represents a new level of automation of logistics processes. With their help, we can speed up loading and unloading operations, as well as keep warehouse records more efficiently. An important advantage of such robots is their ability to maneuver in confined spaces, which is important for large warehouses with heavy loads. The successful completion of our testing opens up new opportunities for the implementation of this technology in the company's divisions," commented Denis Kolupaev, Head of R&D at Severstal-Infocom.
