Innovative Forklift Carts Automation – "The system drives your cart"
05 FR GECB 0CWF
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version (pdf)Description
A French SME has developed and patented a new
system to automate conventional forklift carts (replacing the cart driver)
operating in storage warehouse using existing storage racks and carts.
Nowadays, logistics companies operating
middle-size storage warehouses are faced with the problem of remaining
competitive in terms of costs and operability with manpower costs increase
and seasonal peaks of activity. One of the issues is the automation of
low added-value storage tasks such as pick-and-place of items.
Warehouse automation solutions have been on the market for several years,
however they all require quite heavy structural investments (specific track)
besides the actual equipment itself. Return on investment is therefore
very long and beyond the standard contract duration for such logistics
companies and moreover the warehouse structure is no more flexible. Those
solutions are adapted to large volume, large flows and continuous operation
However, for middle-size volumes (2 to 10 000 m²) and flows, it becomes
clearly unprofitable to invest in existing costly solutions. Therefore, the
use of traditional forklift carts is still the most common solution, however
not satisfactory under current competitive conditions (seasonal peaks,
difficulty to find qualified manpower).
The solution proposed here is to replace the cart driver by a robotic
driving system which can be fitted to any type of standard forklift. The
system combines an automation part driven by a specifically designed
software with a robotic device which acts as a driver (a step-motor
activates the driver's wheel, while two linear actuators activate the pedal)
and laser telemetry for 3D positioning (2D for the cart + 1D in height for
the fork).
The system can be fitted to any type of standard forklift in conventional,
compact or mobile warehouse. A safety system is installed in the warehouse
which becomes a restricted area to prevent the risk of an accident in case
of human intrusion in the warehouse while the system operates. Ambient,
controlled temperature and deep freeze conditions are addressed.
The forklift cart may be retrofitted to manual driving at any time within a
few minutes. The system can also be adapted to a new warehouse configuration
with a simple reprogramming of the software parameters.
The system can be adapted to any conditions already suitable for human
operations such as for instance in frigorific warehouses.
Return on investment is estimated at 1 year compared to up to 7 or 9 years
for conventional systems.
Please click on image for fill-size view
Current Stage of Development
Available for demonstration
Intellectual Property Rights
Patent(s)
applied for
Collaboration
details
The company would like to licence
the technology to partners abroad involved in the following activities: computer-integrated material handling, conveyor systems, end of production line equipment, stretch-wrapping machine, mobile racks, palletisation, special forklift carts.
The French company would
provide the patent licence and the software while the partner would provide
or manufacture the robotic part locally under the French company's
specifications.
For more information
Laurent VOLLE
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