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Concept
Logistics automation
Summary
Logistics automation is the application of computer software or automated machinery to improve the efficiency of logistics operations. Typically this refers to operations within a warehouse or distribution center, with broader tasks undertaken by supply chain engineering systems and enterprise resource planning systems.
Logistics automation systems can powerfully complement the facilities provided by these higher level computer systems. The focus on an individual node within a wider logistics network allows systems to be highly tailored to the requirements of that node.
Logistics automation systems comprise a variety of hardware and software components:
Fixed machinery
Automated storage and retrieval systems, including:
Cranes serve a rack of locations, allowing many levels of stock to be stacked vertically, and allowing for higher storage densities and better space utilization than alternatives.
In systems produced by Amazon Robotics, automated guided vehicles move items to a human picker.
Conveyors: Containers can enter automated conveyors in one area of the warehouse and, either through hard-coded rules or data input, be moved to a selected destination.
Vertical carousels based on the paternoster lift system or using space optimization, similar to vending machines, but on a larger scale.
Sortation systems: similar to conveyors but typically with higher capacity and able to divert containers more quickly. Typically used to distribute high volumes of small cartons to a large set of locations.
Industrial robots: four- to six-axis industrial robots, e.g. palleting robots, are used for palleting, depalleting, packaging, commissioning and order picking.
Typically all of these will automatically identify and track containers using barcodes or, increasingly, RFID tags.
Motion check weighers may be used to reject cases or individual products that are under or over their specified weight. They are often used in kitting conveyor lines to ensure all pieces belonging in the kit are present.
Official source
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