Guide: how to deploy an autonomous mobile robot fleet with minimal disruption to operations

We can summarize this section in one short sentence: Plan offline and double-check onsite.

The more preparation work is done before reaching the site, the smoother onsite work will be. However, it is important to keep in mind that there may always be gaps between the plan and reality, be it due to errors or changes that have taken place since initial mapping.

Of course, the robot capabilities and the deployment tools mentioned in the previous two sections help in achieving this.

Our customer success team has come up with the following guidelines that help ensure fast, uneventful deployment:

Avoid obstacles in key areas

Pick-ups and drop-offs are key to having a smooth operation. These locations must be free of any obstacles or clutter inside or in the immediate surroundings.

Network requirements and coverage

Ensure the deployment team has access to the network before going on-site.
Check signal quality along the workflow specifically on the key decision points. Prefer AMR fleets that rely on distributed computing, as these can make decisions even without network connectivity when needed.

Route planning, workflow, and layout definition

Route planning and layout definition is one of the most critical parts when defining a project.
A good layout defines the path your robots can take, notes important areas of interest (like entity pick-up and their respective drop-off points, as well as areas where robot charging stations will be), and sometimes even areas where pedestrian activity is higher.

Here are some guidelines:

Preliminary studies

Gather pictures, videos, and CAD models of the facility so that you all speak the same language. Make sure you define the scope of the project beforehand. Having said that, it is important to map the facility using an AMR to obtain an accurate map as, in our experience, most CAD models are not kept up-to-date

Trajectory planning

Avoid having the same lane for traveling in both directions. Plan either two lanes, one for inbound and another for outbound, or a circular route.

Avoid lanes that have few localization landmarks. Good localization landmarks are fixed objects that never move (e.g., pillars, heavy machinery, elevator shafts, etc.).
Plan waiting areas for your robots if you have a narrow path, e.g., right before the entrance/exit to an elevator, to avoid traffic deadlocks.

Parking and pickup zones

Specifically in cart-tugging or pallet-moving scenarios, depending on the size of the robot, the size of the cart, and the load, you might find yourself in situations where it is very hard to maneuver in and out of a pick-up or drop-off zone. If so, we propose placing the carts or loads on the diagonal instead of perpendicular to the path, to facilitate the robot’s maneuvering while performing these operations. The required spacing between parked carts and loads should also be considered.

If possible, these zones should be low-traffic areas as the robots need time to scan the areas and to maneuver.

Docking stations

Define where to place the robot’s charging stations. Usually, it is a good idea to have them not far from the robot’s usual work path, like near a pick-up zone. If the facility is very large, you might want to define multiple docking areas.

Route planning

Plan routes to avoid congestion and obstacles. Choose routes with lower traffic. If any other type of automated machinery vehicle shares the same driveway or crosses it, on-site priority rules should be assessed.