The decision-makers responsible for the Spanish logistics center had set themselves the goal of increasing the efficiency of the warehouse processes. The employees were also to be relieved of monotonous and physically demanding tasks and the staff shortage was to be compensated for. All in all, the new approaches were intended to sustainably improve the entire operational processes and thus strengthen the company's position on the market.

Efficiency increase of 60 percent in material flow

The biggest challenge in the logistics area was the storage of heavy photovoltaic systems weighing over a ton, which require precise stacking, storage, retrieval and transportation. The transport routes to the storage locations were to be simplified and the material flow increased, while at the same time ensuring maximum safety for employees.

Laser navigation for real-time mapping

The driverless transport system and the autonomous forklift truck use 3D SLAM laser navigation. This technology enables robots to map their environment in real time and locate themselves precisely within this map. By using advanced sensors and algorithms, they can detect obstacles, determine their position and re-plan more efficient routes in real time, saving time and resources. 3D SLAM adds a third dimension to traditional 2D approaches, which is particularly beneficial in complex and unstructured environments, especially for high-bay warehouse systems. This type of navigation is essential for applications where precision and safety are top priorities.

Sensor fusion technology combines data from various sensors such as lidar and cameras to create a detailed and reliable representation of the environment. The algorithms are optimized for real-time processing of large amounts of data, enabling an immediate response to changes in the environment. The 3D-SLAM solutions are robust against disturbances and offer exceptional precision in millimeters, even in dynamic and unpredictable environments.

Workload reduction through autonomous systems

The AGV AS300 automated guided vehicle system is characterized by its compact design and high-precision positioning. The robot navigates with an accuracy of +/-5 mm and has low requirements in terms of working and ground conditions. Obstacles are avoided while driving and a new route is calculated in real time. Thanks to the intelligent technology, the driverless transport system always finds current and efficient routes independently, simplifying processes fully automatically.

The AMR Model AF14 autonomous forklift truck also has sensitive pallet detection cameras and several sensors for 3D obstacle avoidance. Equipped with this technology, the system is able to navigate safely even in narrow and densely packed racks and move loads of up to 1.4 tons. Thanks to its compact design and precise navigation, the AMR AF14 can easily navigate aisles just 1.6 meters wide, thus saving a considerable amount of space in the warehouse.

In addition to increasing efficiency in the Spanish department store logistics center, the automated systems also helped to reduce the workload of employees and the accident rate in operations. Staff shortages were compensated for and error rates were significantly reduced. As a result, employee satisfaction also increased.