Robot Spot with arm

Mobile manipulator: an efficient 2-in-1 solution

A mobile manipulator is an autonomous machine able to navigate its surroundings and perform complex tasks assisted by an articulated arm. It offers advanced perceptual capabilities, including vision and environmental sensing, for safely navigating complex and unpredictable environments. And users can equip its robot arm with various tools to perform specific tasks. These versatile 2-in-1 robots can be helpful in a wide variety of applications, in fields ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to scientific research, exploration and surveillance, and resource extraction.

Research and laboratories

Mobile robots fitted with robot arms are becoming increasingly common in research and laboratories because they are versatile, meticulous, and can perform repetitive and complex tasks. For example, they can manage:
Universities can use them to teach programming and robotics to students.

Logistics and distribution

Hybrid mobile robots are increasingly popular in logistics and distribution to automate certain tasks, reduce costs and increase process efficiency. They are particularly suitable for order picking, packing and shipping tasks in distribution centres.

Amazon: a pioneer in warehouse automation

In 2019, Amazon chose to introduce some 4,000 robots among its employees at the distribution centre in Brétigny-sur-Orge.

Why? To reduce delivery times, increase productivity and relieve employees.

One example is the mobile Robo-Stow robot, which has an automated arm designed to lift and move heavy goods at Amazon’s warehouses. It can stack and unpack pallets.

By automating warehouse tasks, Amazon hopes to dispatch in 12 hours instead of 24, and ultimately deliver products to customers on the very day of ordering. The e-commerce giant is also planning to create fully automated warehouses.

They also use the Bunker Pro mobile robot by AgileX, ideal for carrying heavy loads and reducing the burden on employees:

Robot mobile Bunker Pro

Future prospects

The future is looking particularly rosy for mobile robots equipped with robot arms. Advances in robotics technology, artificial intelligence and sensors are making them increasingly powerful and versatile.

Conclusion

The examples in this article demonstrate the significant advantages of using mobile manipulators for many different types of work. They can perform tasks found repetitive, hazardous and difficult by humans, and have become valuable tools in many industries. They can also operate autonomously, or with minimal human intervention, to perform tasks even more efficiently and safely. Advances in robotics, AI and automation technologies show a lot of promise and could ultimately revolutionise many aspects of our lives and society.

Génération Robots designs mobile manipulators

Equipped with a robotics design office (GRLAB), Génération Robots can design solutions based on your specifications.