Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Industrial Mobile Robots

25 September 2024 | News

Innovations, Applications, and Environmental Benefits Driving Sustainability in Industry 4.0

The rapid evolution of industrial automation is driving factories to adopt smarter and more efficient technologies to improve their production processes. In this sense, industrial mobile robots stand out as a key tool. These autonomous machines are able to navigate manufacturing environments safely and perform critical tasks accurately.

This article delves into the latest innovations, applications and advantages in terms of environmental responsibility of industrial mobile robots, showing how they are revolutionizing production lines and driving sustainability in Industry 4.0.

WHAT ARE INDUSTRIAL MOBILE ROBOTS USED FOR?

Industrial mobile robots are used in manufacturing environments for tasks such as transporting materials, handling delicate parts, inspecting products for quality control, and automating logistics. These robots operate autonomously and adapt to changing environments, making them highly valuable in manufacturing industries such as electronics, automotive, and pharmaceuticals.

HOW DO INDUSTRIAL MOBILE ROBOTS NAVIGATE A FACTORY?

Industrial mobile robots use advanced sensors, cameras, and navigation software to autonomously move around a factory without the need for guides or beacons. They rely on technologies such as LiDAR, GPS, and AI to detect obstacles, optimize routes, and adapt to changes in the environment in real time, making them more flexible than traditional guided vehicles.

MAJOR INDUSTRIES USING INDUSTRIAL MOBILE ROBOTS FOR EFFICIENCY

This is the ranking of the 3 professional sectors that implement the most industrially manufactured robots, according to official data from IFR World Robotics 2023:

The electrical/electronics industry became the main customer for industrial robots in 2020 and has maintained this position ever since. In 2022, robot installations increased by 10% in the production of household appliances, electrical machinery, semiconductors, solar panels, computers, telecommunications devices, and video and electronic entertainment items, the highest level ever recorded.
The automotive industry lost its position as the largest customer of industrial robots in 2020. Despite a strong growth rate of 16% in 2022, it remained in second place. The automotive industry had been the most important customer of industrial robots since the first unit was installed at the General Motors plant in New Jersey in 1961.
The metallurgical and machinery industry consolidated in third place, accounting for 12% of all installations in 2022. Both manufacturers of metal products and producers of industrial machinery have increased the number of robots implemented in recent years.

5 INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS OF INDUSTRIAL MOBILE ROBOTS IN INDUSTRY 4.0

The applications that industrial mobile robots run in manufacturing environments are becoming more accurate, complex, and intelligent as the technology sector evolves.

Now, an industrial AMR has more autonomy, more precision in navigation and greater capacity to give intelligent responses to the environment.

These are some of the applications that these robots carry out in industry 4.0:

Industrial robots for autonomous material transport One of the most common uses of industrial mobile robots is the transport of materials within factories. Autonomous mobile robots are used to move parts, components, or finished products between different areas of the production floor without human intervention. They can also assemble components as they move from one workstation to another, integrating the work of different areas of the factory into a single continuous process. This increases flexibility and reduces waiting times between different phases of the production process. Unlike traditional fixed transporters or automated guided vehicles (AGVs), AMRs can make real-time decisions about the best route to take, avoiding obstacles and adjusting to the conditions of the environment.
Industrial robots for handling delicate parts Within the range of industrial mobile robots are autonomous mobile manipulators capable of picking, transporting and assembling complex components with millimetre precision. Many manufacturing companies have processes that involve handling products that require a high level of precision. An example of this is the electronics industry with the manipulation of microchips or sensitive electronic components. As mentioned above in reference to IFR data in 2023, the electrical/electronics industry is currently the main customer of industrial robots for tasks such as the manufacture of household appliances, electrical machinery, semiconductors, solar panels, computers, telecommunications devices, and entertainment devices.
Industrial robots for inspection and quality control. Mobile robots also play an important role in product inspection and quality control. They integrate advanced sensors, cameras, and machine learning technology to move around the production line, inspect products, and detect deficiencies with much greater accuracy than human inspectors. This improves the quality of products and significantly reduces the waste of resources and materials resulting from manufacturing errors.
Industrial robots for construction Although automation in the construction sector is still underdeveloped compared to other sectors, mobile robots are already used for tasks such as transporting construction materials or mapping and inspecting construction sites.
Industrial robots in the pharmaceutical sector. Mobile robots are becoming more and more common for handling medicines and chemicals, both in laboratories and in the pharmaceutical industry. They are used in internal logistics, for example in the transport of hazardous substances, improving safety in pharmaceutical production plants.

These are just a few examples of industrial robots, but statistics on industrial robotics show that the use of robots is becoming more diversified: retail, e-commerce, aerospace or in recycling plants.

HOW FACTORIES ARE TRANSFORMING INDUSTRIAL MOBILE ROBOTS

Industrial manufacturing has long had a significant impact on environmental issues, but many companies are now focusing on reducing their ecological footprint through more sustainable practices. One of the key ways they are doing this is by integrating industrial mobile robots into their operations.

While these robots also come at an environmental cost, mainly due to energy consumption and the materials used in their production, they offer several notable advantages compared to traditional manufacturing methods. Its precise operations and ability to work continuously bring clear benefits for both efficiency and sustainability.

Below are some of the most important ways industrial mobile robots are positively impacting the environment:

Waste reduction Mobile robots can perform repetitive tasks with great precision, reducing the waste of materials from defective products. For example, in assembly processes or parts manufacturing, the use of robots reduces the number of errors along with the need to redo work and, consequently, minimizes the unnecessary use of unsustainable materials such as plastic.
Optimisation of energy consumption The deployment of industrial mobile robots in factories can also contribute to greater energy efficiency. They are designed to minimize energy consumption during your operations. In addition, its ability to work continuously and without interruption optimizes energy use in factories. Some advanced robotic solutions like these have the option of autonomous charging and can manage their energy consumption efficiently.
Reducing the carbon footprint in logistics Within factories, logistics management can lead to significant carbon emissions due to the use of traditional motor vehicles. Industrially manufactured robots can lighten internal or external logistics by moving with reduced emissions. In addition, by optimizing routes and avoiding unnecessary trips, industrial mobile robots contribute to more sustainable logistics operations.
Recycling and reuse of materials The evolution in the robotics sector is also heading towards the use of more sustainable materials for the manufacture of the robots themselves, making systems more durable and recyclable. Robotnik is working to incorporate more and more recycled materials into our mobile robots and mitigate the environmental impact associated with their manufacture.

Sustainability is one of the great challenges of the 21st century and manufacturing industries are looking for new ways to minimize their environmental impact. Industrial mobile robots are an important asset in the transition to more sustainable manufacturing.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL MOBILE ROBOTS: A PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY

Industrial mobile robots are already established for the automation of factories that perform tasks such as logistics transport or the handling and classification of parts.

The challenge of industrial robotics lies in improving efficiency in a smart way to achieve more cost-effective and sustainable industrial automation.

The convergence between industrial automation and robotics is a key combination on the path to sustainable manufacturing.

Industry 4.0 marks a new era in factory automation and the digitalization of industrial processes, integrating technologies such as robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to improve production efficiency and open new paths towards production processes with a lower environmental impact.

Promoting the transition to more sustainable industrial practices through the use of renewable energies, improving product traceability and implementing more flexible production systems that adjust energy demand in real time, contribute not only to the competitiveness of companies, but also to the creation of greener and more responsible markets, reducing the carbon footprint and promoting the efficient use of natural resources.

Autonomous mobile robotics and Industry 4.0 therefore offer advantages in terms of productivity and play a crucial role in creating a more sustainable future from an environmental perspective.