Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, robotic vehicles are becoming significantly smarter and more capable. They’re also becoming increasingly versatile, with a vast variety of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) fulfilling numerous roles in fields like warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and the supply chain.

This guide explores some of the many types of autonomous mobile robots, exploring their functions and duties.

Key Takeaways

• Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are transforming industries by handling tasks like goods transport, inventory management, and last-mile delivery, boosting efficiency and reducing labor costs.
• Five primary AMR types (including goods-to-person robots, cobots, autonomous forklifts, sortation solutions, and automated storage systems) offer versatile applications across logistics, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and agriculture.
• Adopting AMR technology today provides a competitive advantage, improving safety, visibility, and customer satisfaction while future-proofing operations in a rapidly growing market.

Brief Overview of AMRs: What Are Autonomous Mobile Robots?

As the name implies, autonomous mobile robots are both autonomous, meaning that they can move around without human control, and mobile, meaning that they can navigate from one location to another, following their own routes and pathways through warehouses, distribution centers, etc.

They’re a lot like autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) in many respects, but with one major difference: AGVs are self-driving vehicles that still require some sort of human interaction to guide them, as human workers often lay out paths and markers for them to follow. AMRs, meanwhile, may navigate their environment without any human intervention, making their own decisions as they go.

5 Different AMR Types

As mentioned earlier, there are different types of autonomous mobile robot designs, each with its own specific functions to fulfill. Here’s a closer look at six autonomous robots changing the way we work:

1. Goods-to-Person AMRS
2. Collaborative Mobile Robots
3. Autonomous Forklifts
4. Enhanced Sortation Solutions
5. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

Goods-to-Person AMRs

Goods-to-person robots do exactly what their name suggests. They find goods, collect them, and transport them to a person, without that individual needing to move an inch. They can simply remain in place and let the robot do the hard work on their behalf.

There are different types of goods-to-person bots, such as inventory transportation models, that pick inventory from racks and shelves, as well as scalable storage pickers, which retrieve pallets, boxes, and cartons from storage locations.

Collaborative Mobile Robots

These are among the most common types of autonomous mobile robots. Collaborative robots, or cobots, are designed to work side-by-side with human workers, automating some of the more mundane and trivial tasks on their behalf.

They can use a robotic arm to pick and put away items, for example, replenish areas where stock is running low, count items, gather data for other systems like inventory management applications, and sort goods into different groups.

Autonomous Forklifts

Forklifts have long been integral cogs of the logistics machine, present in warehouses and distribution centers around the world. However, they have typically required human operators to drive them around and control them as they pick up and put away pallets or transport inventory here and there.

Autonomous forklifts are the next evolution of this technology. With the power to drive themselves around the warehouse floor, these sophisticated forklifts plot their routes with precision to collect goods and move them wherever they’re needed.

Enhanced Sortation Solutions

Sortation AMRs can take on a wide range of sorting tasks in warehouses and distribution tasks. Using their various sensors and built-in AI, they can categorize objects according to type, size, weight, destination, and more.

They’re often most effective when paired with other kinds of AMRs that can then pick and transport items from the sorted groups, taking them where they need to be in the next step of the order fulfillment process.

Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems

Similar to some of the other AMRs listed above, automated storage and retrieval robots are designed to transport goods where they’re needed. They can put items into storage, placing pallets on high racks, for example, but are equally effective at retrieving items, as needed.

Speed and efficiency are the key selling points of these robots and many others. They’re remarkably rapid and precise when it comes to placing or collecting items from specific, pinpoint locations.

Benefits of AMRs

Many businesses are incorporating AMRs into their operations, and with benefits like these, it’s not hard to see why:

• Operational Efficiency: AMRs can optimize a range of workflows, minimizing the time it takes for certain fundamental processes to occur. They can optimize warehouse routes, for example, facilitating the fast flow of materials from point A to point B. They’re also able to take over trivial and low-skilled tasks to keep labor costs down.
• Inventory Visibility: AMRs can also be used to track and monitor inventory, thanks to built-in sensors, cameras, and other technologies. They can help warehouse managers remain up-to-date and informed on inventory to make smarter decisions, reducing the risk of problems like overstocking or stockouts.
• Workplace Safety: AMRs like picking robots can use their robotic arms to safely carry out tasks that could pose health and safety risks to workers, like moving bulky and heavy goods. This, in turn, makes workplaces like warehouse environments safer for all involved.
• Customer Satisfaction: Autonomous delivery robots can carry out goods to person last-mile deliveries or take packages to customers in hard-to-reach situations. Many also boast real-time tracking capabilities, helping customers keep a closer eye on their order fulfillment and get the goods they need more quickly and efficiently.

Discover Logix WCS by BoxLogix

To maximize the benefits of autonomous mobile robots, businesses need a warehouse control system that keeps pace with fast-moving operations. That’s where BoxLogix comes in. 

Our proprietary Logix WCS is designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing WMS or WES, giving you the tools to unlock the full power of AMRs. Key features include:

• Live 3D visualization for real-time equipment and workflow monitoring
• Dynamic order routing that adapts instantly to changing warehouse conditions
• End-to-end visibility into pick, pack, and ship processes
• Predictive diagnostics and customizable automation controls to minimize downtime

With Logix WCS, warehouses can reduce costs, increase throughput, and scale more confidently as automation evolves. Explore Logix WCS features and watch a short video overview here.

Recent AMR Trends and Growth

The AMR industry is moving fast, with several exciting trends for interested observers to keep an eye on:

• Growth: The biggest trend in AMRs right now is growth. This industry is expanding rapidly, with a compound annual growth rate of more than 15% for the coming years. That should see the market rise in value to almost $10 billion by 2030.
• Versatility: We’re also starting to see more and more industries take an active interest and embrace autonomous robot technology. That includes the obvious sectors, like logistics and warehousing, but also fields like agriculture, retail, healthcare, and more.
• Technological Advancements: AMRs are getting smarter. As AI and machine learning models improve, those benefits are being carried over into these industrial robots, unlocking new use cases and features.
• Focus on Collaboration: AMRs aren’t designed to replace humans. Indeed, many developers and users are seeking to foster human-robot collaboration through a balanced usage of these robots, seeking ways for the two to work side-by-side, safely and efficiently.

Are AMRs Right for Your Business?

The short answer to that question is almost certainly yes. If your business operates in any field that has a reliance on robotics, such as logistics, manufacturing, warehouse work, distribution centers, order fulfillment, retail, e-commerce, healthcare, and even agriculture, investing in AMR tech today could deliver a much brighter and better tomorrow.

The benefits of these robots are clear to see. They’re transforming the operations of businesses across the globe, improving every key metric that matters, from efficiency to inventory management, budget control, workplace security, and profitability. Even though they cost some money to acquire and deploy initially, they can pay you back tenfold in the long term.

Plus, as time goes by, it’s inevitable that more and more businesses, including your competitors, are highly likely to adopt this technology. Getting in on the ground floor could provide early adopters with that all-important edge to outlast and outperform their biggest rivals.

Want Personalized AMR Help? Let BoxLogix Optimize Your Logistics

If your business could benefit from AMR technology, but you’re not quite sure where to start or how to make the most of these game-changing robots, turn to the pros. BoxLogix has years of experience and a proven track record of assisting companies like yours in selecting the perfect solutions to optimize their logistics. 

Contact our team today to get the ball rolling.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the types of mobile robots?

Mobile robots generally fall into categories like autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Within AMRs, there are several types, including goods-to-person robots, collaborative mobile robots, autonomous forklifts, drones, sortation solutions, and automated storage and retrieval systems.

What is an example of an autonomous mobile robot?

A common example is a collaborative mobile robot, or “cobot,” which works alongside human employees in warehouses. These robots can pick and place items, replenish stock, or gather data, taking on repetitive tasks while freeing workers for higher-value responsibilities.

Who uses an autonomous mobile robot?

Businesses in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and even agriculture are adopting AMRs. They rely on these robots to improve efficiency, reduce labor costs, and create safer, more productive environments.

Which type of autonomous mobile robot is most widely used today?

Collaborative mobile robots are currently among the most widely deployed AMRs. Their versatility and ability to work side-by-side with humans make them especially attractive across industries like e-commerce, logistics, and supply chain management.

What are the three main characteristics of autonomous robots?

Autonomous robots are self-navigating, meaning they can move through an environment without human control. They are adaptive, using sensors and AI to make decisions in real time, and they are mobile, able to travel and perform tasks across different areas within a facility.