Autonomous mobile robots: Colleagues on wheels

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• August 25, 2022

Insight summary

Amazon's autonomous mobile robot (AMR) demonstrates the rise of autonomous machines in various industries, from manufacturing to healthcare. These robots, equipped with advanced perception, decision-making, and mobility capabilities, automate repetitive tasks and operate alongside humans in diverse settings. The widespread adoption of AMRs is driving significant changes in labor markets, security, data handling, and environmental sustainability, requiring new policies and educational programs.

Autonomous mobile robots context

In June 2022, Amazon unveiled its first AMR, Proteus, assigned to help the company’s fulfillment and sort centers. The machine looks like a robot vacuum equipped with safety, perception, and navigation technologies. Proteus can carry and move GoCarts, Amazon’s wheeled trolleys for transporting goods through warehouses. It even knows when a human is about to cross its path and how to wait or swerve. Proteus is an example of the many AMRs being developed by tech firms to automate repetitive (and sometimes dangerous) tasks.

Three main characteristics make AMRs functional. First is perception, which translates to laser scanners, stereo vision cameras, bump and force-torque sensors, and even spectrometers (used to detect electromagnetic particles). All these tools help AMRs to “see,” “hear,” and “feel,” allowing them to interact with the objects around them successfully. The next characteristic of these machines is the ability to decide.

Based on the information it has “perceived,” an AMR uses deep learning (machine learning) to react appropriately to external stimuli (e.g., identifying potential obstacles and collisions). Finally, AMRs must be able to move freely to achieve their full utility. This function is enabled by motors, wheels, conveyors, and hydraulic rams. Using all these three characteristics, an AMR can become more than a machine, transitioning instead into a trustworthy colleague.

Disruptive impact

Some typical applications for AMRs include manufacturing, research and development, logistics, healthcare, and public safety. In manufacturing, AMRs are commonly used for material handling, machine tending, quality control, and process monitoring. In many cases, they can automate tasks typically done by human workers, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity.

For example, AMRs with robotic arms and conveyors can be used to continuously transport materials (especially heavy packets) from one point to another in a factory setting. This advantage can free human workers to perform other tasks requiring manual dexterity or reduce safety hazards for human workers. AMRs can also monitor production processes and detect errors or irregularities through sensors and scanners, allowing operators to address them immediately. In some cases, these machines are even used to assemble products autonomously. 

Another area where AMRs are being increasingly used is in research and development. Their versatility and flexibility make them ideal for tasks such as transporting lab equipment or specimens between workstations, performing repetitive tests, and sanitizing tools and rooms. Meanwhile, flexible robots can be used in logistics tasks such as package delivery, inventory management, and order fulfillment. In some cases, they can even be used to escort people through busy areas or dangerous environments. In healthcare, AMRs can assist in patient transport, specimen collection and handling, wound care, and even pharmacy automation. 

Finally, public safety is another area where AMRs offer worthwhile potential. They can be used in search-and-rescue operations, crime scene investigations, and bomb detection and disposal.

Implications of autonomous mobile robots

Wider implications of AMRs may include: 

• Autonomous robotic arms in biotech and biopharma production enhancing precision in monitoring cell cultures, managing waste, and providing timely alerts for errors or developments, thereby elevating the efficiency of research and production processes.
• AMRs equipped with secure compartments becoming integral in data centers and research facilities for the safe transfer of sensitive information, significantly improving data security and reducing the risk of data breaches.
• The implementation of robots with advanced sensors and cameras for patrolling offices and premises, contributing to enhanced security measures and potentially reducing the need for human security personnel.
• A significant shift in logistics and warehousing companies towards AMR usage, leading to a reduction in traditional employment opportunities and requiring workforce reskilling and adaptation programs.
• The military increasingly adopting AMRs for critical tasks, such as surveillance and mine detection, reducing human risk in dangerous missions and reshaping military strategies and operations.
• The surge in AMR usage in various industries prompting governments to formulate new regulations and policies, focusing on ethical AI use, labor market transitions, and safety standards.
• Consumer interactions with businesses evolving as AMRs begin to handle more customer service and support roles, potentially improving efficiency but also altering the nature of customer experience.
• Environmental benefits arising from more efficient AMR-driven processes in industries, leading to reduced waste and energy consumption.
• Educational and training programs evolving to prepare future workforces for an AMR-integrated world, focusing on robotics, AI literacy, and interdisciplinary skills.
• Healthcare delivery seeing transformative changes with AMRs assisting in surgeries, patient care, and hospital logistics.

Questions to consider

• If your company uses AMRs, how have they changed the nature of work for your colleagues? Have they made your work/job easier?
• How else can these AMRs change the way people work?