Fetch Robotics Unveils New Autonomous Mobile Robot Assistants for Warehouse Tasks
In 2021, Zebra Technologies acquired Fetch Robotics for $290 million. Today, that deal is already paying off with the release of new FlexShelf, FlexShelf Guide, RollerTop Guide robots and the new FetchCore software package for order picking and batch fulfillment.
Three new autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are built on the Fetch Freight100 AMR platform. They are designed to optimize the workflow between employees and goods in the warehouse. Integration with Zebra solutions helps verify new products. Fetch co-founder Melonie Wise said: "Many of our customers have been pushing us in this direction for quite some time."
FetchCore, enterprise cloud software, allows companies to change warehouse operation workflows on demand. It provides dynamic coordination of labor and robots through integration with leading warehouse management systems (WMS) and warehouse execution systems (WES) to optimize workflows for order picking, batch, case and pallet handling.
Fetch FlexShelf is designed for warehouse operations and includes additional active features not found in the existing Fetch HMIShelf bot. The latter was designed to handle production materials, while FlexShelf is optimized for warehouse operations.
The robot has a built-in touchscreen, barcode scanner and NFC tag reader. Indicator LED strips are built into the shelf's support structure, helping operators identify the correct side of the aisle for the target inventory location and flag the priority of a pick operation. The LEDs also function as "on" lighting to ensure order accuracy for each specific customer.
The robot can carry loads of up to 70 kg in total, which is more than many competing warehouse transport solutions. All new products comply with the latest R15.08 safety standard. Thanks to the interactivity built into FlexShelf, order accuracy improves and training time is significantly reduced. Fetch expects new warehouse employees to learn the picking assistance system within a few minutes.
The company said the RollerTop Guide AMR can integrate the workflows of each pick with existing fixed conveyor, sorting and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS).
“If you look at how we built the software platform, you will see that we can work with any number of WMS or WES vendors. Mostly they come in through the same top layer, and then beneath it we can build a custom workflow with the settings the customer requires. We have much more flexibility regarding the types of workflows and processes we can support. Say you have an overflow process: we can support it very easily out of the box with our product, compared with some competitors who only have one process”
Zebra Technologies Vice President and General Manager of Robotics Automation James Lawton said: "In 2020, we introduced SmartSight as our first automation solution for retail, and just a few months ago we welcomed Fetch and its broad range of AMRs for material transport in logistics and manufacturing into the Zebra family. Our new comprehensive fulfillment solution combines the best of both companies to help our retail, wholesale and third-party (3PL) logistics customers overcome the biggest challenges in each specific case through intelligent automation."
All new AMRs can be purchased using a capital model (full purchase) or a Robot-as-a-Service model, depending on customer preference. All Fetch AMRs operate on the facility's existing Wi-Fi network, with the ability to use modern handheld devices, voice technologies and video surveillance technologies that interact with the FetchCore software delivered as a cloud service.
According to the Zebra Warehousing Vision Study, 77% of respondents agree that empowering workers with technology is the best way to implement automation in the warehouse. Given growing consumer expectations driven by the on-demand economy, along with limited staffing, automated processes can help simplify tasks, create happier and more efficient workers, and help businesses stay competitive in a dynamic market.
The new robot management software also recognizes other Fetch devices and forklifts as they move through the warehouse, and can track and predict where vehicles will move at any given moment. The software includes a new "social behavior" stack that predicts where a person may walk or move, where they will slow down so as not to obstruct their path, and how to avoid a potential collision.
Forklift forks and elevated order pickers pose an additional hazard for AMRs in the warehouse. New Fetch obstacle avoidance algorithms recognize when an order picker is working in an aisle and create an additional safety zone around it so the AMR is not harmed when the picker returns to ground level. When detecting forklift forks, the Fetch AMR system now indicates where they should be, even if the AMR cannot actively detect them with its sensors.
“AMRs that support manual picking operations in fulfillment centers are in incredibly high demand, as retailers and 3PL providers struggle to keep up with their customers' requirements. Fetch Robotics, now part of Zebra Technologies, has responded to this demand by developing an integrated fulfillment solution, so retailers and 3PLs can now not only optimize every picking operation but also use the full Fetch AMR portfolio to automate any manual workflow in fulfillment and distribution centers”
