Advantech wanted to improve material handling in a dynamic but space-constrained warehouse. It has successfully deployed SEER Robotics M4 Smart Logistics Management System, which coordinates multiple Rotary Lifting robots.
Founded in 2015, SEER Robotics said it focuses on helping intralogistics integrators and machine builders to build their own autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The Shanghai, China-based company develops and offers a modular platform with localization, navigation, motion control, and artificial intelligence all packaged into one controller.
Advantech said it is a global leader in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The Taipei, Taiwan-based company reported that SEER Robotics’ system has delivered efficient, precise, and flexible material handling within its facility.
Advantech project posed challenges
The deployment of robots in Advantech’s U.S. facility presented significant hurdles, recalled SEER Robotics. More than 100 densely packed racks created exceptionally narrow aisles, demanding ultra-high positioning accuracy and maneuverability from AMRs.
Mixed human-robot traffic and frequent dynamic obstacles also made traditional robot scheduling inadequate for safe, efficient cooperation, said the company.
In addition, labor-intensive manual picking forced staffers to walk miles daily, required multiple workers for heavy loads, and was a bottleneck urgently needing automation at Advantech.
SEER Robotics provides adaptive solution
SEER Robotics said it addressed Advantech’s core needs, setting a new benchmark for robotic automation in dense, narrow spaces. The company said its adaptive solution earned client plaudits.
Precision and agility for complex aisles
- Load-stable rotation enhanced agility: SEER Robotics said load-stable rotation enables its Rotary Lifting robots to rotate independently from their loads. This drastically reduces their turning radius, significantly boosting navigation flexibility and efficiency in tight spaces.
- QR codes boost accuracy: Strategically placed QR codes enable high-precision secondary positioning in dynamic environments. This ensures pinpoint operation and task accuracy, even with high interference from human traffic.
System-wide Intelligence for dynamic environments
- Advanced R-MAPF scheduling: The M4 system uses upgraded R-MAPF (Multi-Agent Path Finding) algorithms. SEER claimed that its robust traffic control enables superior complex path planning and real-time multi-robot collision avoidance, ensuring safe, efficient flow at critical congestion points.
- Smart slot management: Deep integration of M4’s slot management optimizes task assignment, conflict avoidance, and multi-robot routing, said SEER. An innovative queuing mechanism at pick stations uses virtual slot statuses. The system intelligently directs robots to queue at waiting points and automatically fills vacancies, enabling continuous, high-throughput operations and maximizing pick-station utilization.
Seamless integration, faster deployment
SEER Robotics said its rich standard interfaces and M4’s pre-built task templates minimized custom development effort. It also facilitated integration with Advantech’s existing warehouse management system (WMS), enabling rapid deployment and a significantly shortened project timeline.
Project delivers Advantech multifaceted value
Advantech reported that SEER Robotics’ solution delivered immediate, multifaceted value. First, the automation successfully replaced manual cart transport, optimizing staffing and lowering operational costs.
The company noted that its staffers no longer have to walk many miles each day for picking or moving heavy loads, fundamentally improving the work environment and experience.
Advantech also said the combination of SEER’s precise robot handling, intelligent scheduling, and queuing system led to significant gains in order response speed, rack turnover, and overall processing capacity.
Finally, real-time system visibility of the location of goods plus full digital traceability of internal logistics processes enabled more standardized and transparent management, the companies said.
