They focus on one particular challenge that needs to be solved, when in reality they should be looking at the entire operation. Sometimes people, as they get into new technologies, can be very myopic. In this 3D illustration, an AMR picks up an engine from a conveyor for a trip to the next step in the production process. What’s should these companies keep in mind during their automation search? If a company has a desire to minimize operator involvement in the movement of materials or parts, AMRs obviously are very attractive. Depending on the cycle time needed to create the part, the same IMR might be able to interact with more than one machine tool. Probably the most common use for this IMR type is machine tending, where the vehicle moves into a position for the cobot to unload a finished part, drop it off into a tote, and then load a new blank into the same mill. By using the unit and the add-on setup, the vehicle can move to various locations and perform distinct functions. In this case, something like a cobot is placed on the AMR’s platform. Type C IMRs are what most people envision when they think about an IMR. These types of devices could be used to bring tooling from a storeroom or replenish parts in a kanban rack. The AMR is designed so that it is counterbalanced, like a forklift, but it can operate in a fully automated mode. A good example would be forks that allow the AMR to pick up a pallet of material and move it. Type B IMRs are altered to allow the unit to conduct work. They also can perform functions like having a lift that allows the AMR to move underneath a load, have the top surface move up to lift the load, and proceed to the programmed destination. Some of these units can be fairly small, but they also can hold much larger loads, depending on the design. The unit relies on information provided about the layout and laser-scanned data to function independently in a manufacturing environment. Type A IMRs are units that provide basic material movement between two points. ANSI is the American National Standards Institute.) The standard groups AMRs into three categories. (The Robotics Industries Association, or RIA, is now known as the Association for Advancing Automation. Some newer models actually can choose preferred paths based on time and the amount of traffic on a shop floor.ĪNSI/RIA R15.08 is the standard that not only covers the classifications for AMRs, but also safety as well. As AMRs have become more advanced and reliable, they have emerged as an alternative to AGVs.ĪMRs also continue to grow more flexible. The fixed routes typically are defined by wires, magnetic strips, or sensors. They also provide automated material movement, but these devices follow designated paths and cannot move around obstacles in their way.
People who have been in manufacturing for several years are likely familiar with automated guided vehicles. Understanding the TerminologyĪMRs, also called industrial mobile robots (IMRs) in some conversations, follow a programmed path, but use sensors and vision systems to move around obstacles in their path.
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) can handle some of these material movement chores, and the highly skilled workers can be redeployed to more vital and profitable activities. These manufacturing companies need to realize an important truth: Mobility is not a value-added activity. In many facilities, highly skilled workers find themselves moving material or products from one manufacturing process to another or moving parts to a quality lab for inspection. With that in mind, manufacturing companies have to make the most of the workers they employ. Scharfsinn86/iStock/Getty Images PlusĮditor’s Note: This article is based on the presentation, “Getting Started With Mobile Robots,” by Robert Bollinger, Dynamic Horizons Automation Solutions, at The Automate Conference, May 22, 2023, in Detroit.įinding workers in any industry today is a challenge.
An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) looks humble enough, but it holds the potential to eliminate the labor expense and drudgery associated with moving material and parts around a shop floor.