We have been hearing about driverless cars in the news now for years, but did you know warehouses have already been making use of autonomous vehicles for a while. Today we are going to look into how autonomous vehicles can be used in the warehouse, how they can be used during delivery and how they work.
How autonomous vehicles can be used in warehouses
Warehouses and their safe, controlled environment are the perfect places to test and develop driverless vehicles. It is no surprise that many warehouses have already been investing in the technology for a few years. Companies like Ocado & Amazon have been using autonomous vehicles and driverless technology to help with their picking and packing processes. But, there is the potential for the ‘robotic workers’ to take on more tasks.
There are currently vehicles being developed to help unload deliveries from lorries, and the list continues with driverless forklift trucks, stackers and pallet trucks all helping take the strain from the human workforce. The vehicles are not intended to replace workers, but to aid in productivity and moving heavy loads with ease and efficiency.
How can they help with deliveries?
Autonomous vehicles may be becoming the norm in warehouse environments, but they can also help companies keep up with delivery requirements in the future. The use of driverless delivery vehicles is currently being tested. Ocado are currently testing out a driverless machine designed specifically for deliveries.
New systems are currently being developed and tested which will see driverless cars with the ability to see around corners with the help of a laser. Meaning, in theory, that driverless cars and vehicles may have the ability to anticipate danger before they can ‘see’ it. The cars should be able to deliver to customers 7 days a week and anticipate delays, which could even mean live updates to customers waiting for deliveries and instant access for staff who want to track the delivery process.
How does it all work?
Autonomous vehicles currently in use in warehouses work in several ways, from moving heavy loads to helping pick and pack operations. Some use what is known as ‘wire technology’, which means a wire is laid through the warehouse, running through the path the vehicle will be taking. The vehicle then follows the wire, using radio waves. Any autonomous vehicle has a built-in safety feature which means if an object is placed in front of the vehicle they stop and will not resume their route until the object is removed. Other vehicles use ‘tape technology’, where coloured markers are stuck to the desired path, and the vehicle recognises the tape’s instructions with its special camera. Tape and wire technology can be costly and lack flexibility should you need to reorganise your warehouse, so some vehicles find their way around spaces by using depth cameras and lasers like driverless cars.
What if your warehouse is a little more crowded or narrower than the norm? Well, there is a machine for you! There are autonomous vehicles that are able to work in crowded corridors and small spaces, they can also climb floors and are perfect for hospitals and medical companies!
