Who Needs Robotics & Automation?
3PL Providers
Third-party logistics
E-Commerce & Retail
Omnichannel fulfillment
What is Logistics Robotics?
Logistics robotics encompasses automated machines that perform physical tasks in warehouses, distribution centers, and transportation operations. Modern robotics ranges from Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) navigating dynamically to robotic arms performing picking and packing tasks. These systems augment human workers, address labor challenges, and increase operational throughput.
The robotics landscape is evolving rapidly, with AI and computer vision enabling new capabilities and more flexible automation solutions.
Types of Robotics
Warehouse and logistics robotics solutions fall into distinct categories based on their function and mobility:
AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots)
Self-navigating robots that dynamically move through facilities without fixed infrastructure. Key applications include goods-to-person systems that bring inventory to workers for picking, sortation robots that move items through sorting processes, transport bots that move materials between locations, and collaborative robots designed to work safely alongside human workers. AMRs use sensors, cameras, and AI to navigate around obstacles and adapt to changing environments.
AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles)
Automated vehicles that follow defined paths using floor markers, wires, or laser guidance. Key applications include pallet movement between dock, storage, and production areas, tugger systems that pull carts through facilities on fixed routes, automated forklift operations for repetitive lift truck tasks, and high-volume material transport on predictable paths. AGVs are reliable and cost-effective for structured, repetitive workflows where flexibility is less critical.
Robotic Arms / Palletizing & Sorting
Stationary robotic systems that perform manipulation tasks at fixed workstations. Key applications include palletizing systems that stack cases onto pallets at end-of-line, depalletizing for unloading pallets for processing or picking, piece picking with vision-guided selection of individual items, packing robots that place items into cartons, and sorting systems for high-speed parcel and item sorting. These systems excel at high-speed, repetitive tasks with consistent throughput requirements.
Emerging Robotics (drones, last-mile, yard)
Next-generation robotics extending automation beyond traditional warehouse operations. Categories include inventory drones for aerial counting and facility monitoring, autonomous delivery vehicles for last-mile residential and commercial delivery, and yard automation including autonomous trailer spotters and yard trucks. These technologies are maturing rapidly with increasing commercial deployment.
Robotics Benefits
Labor
- Productivity: 2-3x improvement in picks per labor hour
- Availability: Robots operate across shifts
- Flexibility: Scale capacity without hiring
- Ergonomics: Reduce physical strain on workers
Operations
- Accuracy: Reduced picking errors
- Throughput: Higher volume processing
- Space: Dense storage with goods-to-person
- Scalability: Add robots to increase capacity
Implementation Considerations
Facility Requirements
- Floor Conditions: Smooth, level surfaces for navigation
- Power: Charging infrastructure
- WiFi: Reliable connectivity for robot communication
- Layout: Aisle widths and traffic patterns
Integration
- WMS: Task assignment and inventory updates
- WCS/WES: Orchestration across automation
- Data: Product dimensions and slotting
Deployment Models
Purchase
Capital purchase of robotics hardware and software. Higher upfront cost but lower ongoing expense.
RaaS (Robots as a Service)
Subscription model with per-robot or per-pick pricing. Lower upfront cost, operational expense instead of capital.
Selection Criteria
1. Use Case Fit
Match robotics type to your operational needs. Goods-to-person for high-SKU picking, palletizing robots for case handling, etc.
2. Throughput Requirements
Size the fleet and system for your volume needs. Consider peak periods and growth.
3. Integration Complexity
Evaluate WMS and facility integration requirements. Some solutions require more implementation effort.
Getting Started
Explore robotics solutions in our Robotics comparison tool to find automation platforms for your warehouse and logistics operations.