Robotics Terms and Definitions
Learn robotics terminology and definitions related to the retail and grocery industries.
A multi shuttle system is an automated storage/retrieval system that has been developed for use in factories and distribution centers because they are more efficient than single-shuttle systems. Multiple shuttles result in improved efficiency, with more agile support and less waiting time for the system the storage/retrieval system serves.
A safety programmable logic controller (SPLC) is a programmable control system typically associated with industrial process control specifically intended for safety logic – i.e., safety interlock chain.
Safe-interval path planning is a routing scheme adopted from autonomous vehicles. It is an algorithm for finding a path in the presence of dynamic obstacles.
Robots as a service is an economic model where customers lease or buy subscriptions for robots use instead of buying them outright as a capital expenditure. This model is great for companies experiencing seasonal swings in volume.
A personal assistant autonomous mobile robot (PA-AMR) is a robot that assists humans with task execution; e.g., lifting, picking, packing, etc.
A cobot, or collaborative robot, is a robot intended for direct human robot interaction within a shared space, or where humans and robots work in close proximity. The cobot and human worker normally complete tasks independently or sequentially.
An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) is a robot that can move without human oversight. They can travel in X and Y paths and freely along a warehouse floor with safeguards for potentially interacting with human traffic. They are often built with cameras and sensors to help them navigate and don’t require wired power.
Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), including carts, lift trucks and purpose-built carriers that are computer-controlled wheel-based load carriers (normally battery powered) that run on a plant or warehouse floor (or, if outdoors, on a paved surface). Most AGVs follow predefined paths, although there may be areas of the plant or warehouse where they have more freedom.
A 2D shuttle is mobile robot that can travel in both horizontal dimensions, but not vertically.