A Guide To Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

Have you ever seen those clever robots that pace around warehouses and workplaces these days? They perform tasks like fulfilling orders, serving meals on restaurant tables, doing last-mile delivery, etc. Such machines are known as autonomous mobile robots or AMRs for short.

Autonomous mobile robots are smart, adaptable, and impressive pieces of technology that work independently and do not need to be supervised by an operator or human. If you’re a business owner trying to increase efficiency, a tech geek interested in the newest robotic advancements, or just an individual who enjoys watching robots in action, this guide is for you.

We’ll look at what AMRs are, their benefits & types, the industries that use them, and the companies that manufacture them. Trust me, by the end of this guide, you’ll be seeing these intelligent machines from a whole new perspective!

What Are Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMRs)?

Autonomous Mobile Robots are robots that can get around and react to their surroundings without direct human supervision. Before being used, AMRs are preprogrammed; usually, this involves mapping their working environment and establishing movement paths. 

Further, these robots are built with sensors to help them avoid hurdles and interact with other robots and networks. Compared to automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which follow a predetermined path using track-like systems comprised of lasers, magnets, or wires, they provide greater flexibility.

AMRs are applicable in a wide range of settings, including industrial and production facilities, warehouses, fulfillment centers, building sites, and even logistics facilities. They also deliver groceries, food, and other retail goods and vacuum floors in homes.

AMRs Benefits: Why Are These Robots Used?

Because AMRs have advantages over other technologies, such as AGVs, they are now frequently seen in a variety of workplace settings. Here are the benefits of using autonomous mobile robots.

1. Enhanced safety for workers

Most AMRs are designed to withstand harsh conditions in manufacturing, construction, and energy industries. They can perform demanding jobs without getting tired, sparing human workers from having to deal with tough situations. All these put together lower the chances of mistakes and accidents at work, improving workers’ physical and emotional well-being throughout their employment.

2. Increased output

AMRs can perform labor-intensive tasks that humans usually perform without growing tired, and certain models can work nonstop. Because of these characteristics, AMRs can increase a company’s output while producing reliable, superior work. At the same time, a more productive workforce is produced when routine and repetitive jobs are automated, releasing human labor to focus on tougher corporate demands.

3. Improved Scalability and Flexibility

AMRs can quickly scale up or down in response to business demands because they are made to accommodate modifying production requirements. So, businesses can react swiftly to changes in the operating environment and market demands – thanks to this flexibility.

4. Increased adaptability

Although AGVs perform comparable tasks as AMRs, they are restricted to predefined routes. This implies that they stop and wait for the obstacle to be eliminated if it is in the way of their progress. Additionally, AMRs exhibit greater adaptability; upon detecting an object or person in their way, they will reroute to complete their task. Autonomous Mobile Robots are also capable of autonomous route planning, adjusting to changing conditions in places like busy hospital hallways and construction sites.

Industries That Use Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

These industries deploy autonomous mobile robots to perform tasks.

• Energy
• Agriculture
• Construction
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• E-commerce
• Manufacturing
• Logistics

Types of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

Below are the most frequently used types of autonomous mobile robots:

1. Picking robots

These AMRs operate product-to-person; they move materials and goods between locations so humans can pick and process orders. Thus, picking robots pick the products an employee needs and deliver them when needed. This reduces the walking that comes with human-led order fulfillment, which increases efficiency and productivity.

2. Drones

Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, can also operate as mobile robots with autonomy. As AMRs, you’ll usually see them conducting surveillance, assisting with search and rescue missions, or checking difficult-to-reach locations like dams and other infrastructure. In other cases, you might even notice them delivering food and other things while they’re airborne.

3. Disinfection robots

Autonomous mobile robots can also contribute to the cleanliness of healthcare environments. For example, ultraviolet disinfection robots move through wards and hallways in hospitals, sanitizing high-touch surfaces such as door knobs, light switches, and assistive rails using specialized UV light bulb attachments to eradicate germs, bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

4. Delivery robots

Delivery AMRs are becoming more common, and by 2028, the market is expected to be worth $1.8 billion, covering everything from deliveries to hot plates. Meanwhile, some delivery robots could come in drones or small vehicles with safe spaces. Usually, these robots are used for curbside pickups (for packages, groceries, and meal orders) or last-mile deliveries.

5. Construction robots

Certain AMRs are designed with the construction sector in mind; they have the structural integrity required to go through busy areas and tough terrains. In addition, construction robots can automate tasks such as designing layouts for workers to reference along surfaces. They can also incorporate labels to assist employees in making appropriate plans and keeping track of information.

6. Hospitality robots

Autonomous mobile robots can also be beneficial to hotels and restaurants. These robots are commonly employed in this industry to bring meals to restaurant tables, clean hotel floors, and even deliver items to guest rooms. Moreso, hospitality robots are currently a kind of niche market, but further advancements could make them more widely used.

7. Agricultural robots

In agriculture, robots use GPS technology alongside sensors and cameras to navigate farms and identify various items. Therefore, they can independently plant seeds, remove weeds, harvest crops, and apply fertilizer. Bigger agricultural AMRs include autonomous tractors, which can handle the demands of larger farms by carrying out similar operations on a larger scale.

8. Autonomous inventory robots

Most of these robots pull supplies and items safely and timely, assisting businesses with inventory management. When paired with RFID tags—a wireless tracking device that can be affixed to goods and supplies—these robots can maneuver through storage spaces, assisting businesses in improved inventory management.

9. Quadruped robots

Despite being adaptable and useful in various settings, quadruped robots are particularly powerful in the energy industry. For instance, sites such as oil rigs and power plants can have confined areas, greasy surfaces, and stairs. Quadrupeds can navigate these challenging spaces because of their balanced and more athletic bodies. Afterward, they can take on riskier tasks including gathering visual information in dangerous locations to guide teams’ preemptive actions.

10. Self-driving forklifts

Self-driving forklifts, another popular AMR in the logistics industry, are used to move and stack pallets and other things in warehouses. They are essential for managing storage space. Additionally, they are vital to a sector of the economy that’s struggling with filling job vacancies.

Autonomous Mobile Robots Companies To Know

These companies will keep advancing autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to the next level as they become more common in the manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and hospitality industries.

Bottom Line

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are advancing industries with their adaptability, efficiency, and flexibility. And as technology advances, AMRs will grow even more proficient at handling progressively complex tasks in various settings.

These robots are proven to be useful assets in hospitals and warehouses alike, increasing safety and efficiency while cutting down operational costs. Additionally, companies may discover that success depends heavily on their ability to understand and apply AMR technology as they strive to remain competitive in an increasingly automated space.

Meanwhile, the future of robotics is autonomous, mobile, and full of potential – and it’s already here.