Cobots and the Future of Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
Overview: The advancement in robotics and artificial intelligence technology has revolutionized the future of warehouse clubs and supercenters globally. In the coming years, the use of collaborative robots – or "cobots" – will dramatically reshape these industries. Cobots can work in tandem with human workers to improve efficiency and safety. With estimates suggesting that by 2021, 4.6 million new robots are expected to be installed in factories worldwide, there is a clear shift towards automation. In addition, by 2025, cobot's market value is expected to cross $12 billion, showing the massive potential for companies who adapt to this change.
Cobots in Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters:
In warehouse clubs and supercenters, cobots are expected to handle almost one-fourth of all warehouse tasks by 2021. These include sorting, loading and unloading, arranging products, and more. Cobots can work side by side with humans, making them an essential tool. They operate in a shared working environment without partitions or safety cells, unlike traditional industrial robots. This improves operational efficiency and can lead to significant reductions in injury rates.
Future Implication of Cobots:
The role of cobots has been further elevated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing businesses to reassess their working models. This problem has been addressed by the use of cobots, which reduce the number of human employees needed on-site by up to 50%. This means that warehouse clubs and supercenters can continue to operate efficiently even in periods of reduced staffing. The flexibility offered by cobots is a key driver for their future implementation, with 8 out of 10 companies already reporting that cobots are meeting or exceeding their ROI expectations.
Key Takeaways: - Cobots are projected to carry out 25% of warehouse tasks by 2021. - Cobots allow companies to operate efficiently with up to 50% fewer human workers. - The cobot market value will exceed $12 billion by 2025. - Most companies (80%) find that cobots meet or exceed their expectations for return on investment.
3Laws Robotics:
3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of this cobots revolution. The firm is developing cutting-edge software to improve safety and reliability in robotics systems. The company's main objective is to tackle certification, one of the major challenges in the robotics industry.
The software, 3Laws Supervisor, simplifies this process by providing robust safety features and evidence of system robustness. This can potentially streamline the certification path. Backed by technology developed at Caltech, it also provides mathematically provable safety.
3Laws' technology has multiple applications across various industries. Some specific instances of its implementation include warehouse automation, where it aided an autonomous forklift customer in achieving a 40% efficiency gain, thereby significantly reducing the payback period. Additionally, it enables safe and uninterrupted operation of robots near humans, addressing the pressing need for collaborative robotic solutions.
3Laws Robotics emphasizes the adaptability of its software – it can work with a vast range of platforms, including mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators. It also boasts compatibility with popular robotics middleware like ROS and ROS2. As a next-generation safety solution, it goes beyond traditional e-stop methods, delivering proactive safety measures that can unlock the robots' full potential. The software can be certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262 standards, signifying its high safety standards.