ABB Adds Autonomous Forklift to Its Growing Mobile Robot Portfolio

What happened:

The autonomous forklift Flexley Stack F712 is from ABB Robotics for use in warehouse applications, material handling and pallet processing in manufacturing. The new system joins ABB’s portfolio of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and targets companies seeking to automate their storage, retrieval and end-of-line logistics operations. With a capacity of up to 2 tonnes, and a storage height of 8.5 metres, the forklift is appropriate for many warehouse and production settings.

Why it matters:

It’s a problem that has been emerging for more than a few manufacturers and logistics providers finding and keeping forklift operators. Meanwhile, warehouses are facing challenges to move more product efficiently and at lower operating costs.

ABB thinks that autonomous forklifts can help solve both problems. 

The Flexley Stack F712 uses visual simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM) technology, which does not require markers, reflectors or fixed infrastructure for navigation like most automated forklift systems. It enables the car to maneuver around the environment, making deployment easier and more flexible for changing warehouse layouts.

The method can also be used to enhance multi-robot coordination between various mobile robots in the same facility, the company notes.

Industry context:

Warehouse automation has continued to be a growing need as manufacturers and distribution centres struggle to find staff, cope with rising order volumes and higher expectations for operational efficiency. In facilities seeking to decrease manual materials handling operations, autonomous forklifts are playing a crucial role in this shift.

Fleet-based automation approaches are increasingly gaining ground in which forklift trucks, tuggers, and mobile transport robots operate in a common navigation space. ABB’s newest release is in line with that idea; the company describes the F712 as a component of a larger system of mobile robots that are autonomous.

With increasing automation of warehouse operations,, technologies are expected to be adopted more widely in manufacturing and logistics industry that will be able to adapt to diverse environments without extensive changes in infrastructure.