Shortages of skilled labor and demand for increased flexibility and productivity are encouraging manufacturers to automate materials handling operations. Industrial and mobile robotics provider Omron Automation Americas recently announced the HD-1500, a mobile robot that can handle objects weighing up to 1,500 kg (3,306 lb.).

In addition to production and workforce challenges, social distancing requirements implemented in response to the COVID-19 epidemic have forced factories to rethink manual tasks. Mobile robots can help fast-paced manufacturing environments maintain speed and flexibility amid these challenges, said Omron.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Omron Automation was founded ini 1933 and creates, sells, and services fully integrated systems for sensing, control, safety, vision, motion, robotics, and more. The company has about 30,000 employees in more than 110 countries, and it launched the LD-250 mobile robot last November.

Omron offers autonomy, safety features

Omron said its latest autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) automatically calculate the best route for material transport while navigating safely around people and obstacles without magnetic floor tapes or other guides. This makes them an effective solution for companies seeking to improve flexibility and maximize floor layout options.

The HD-1500’s heavy-duty design is suitable for moving heavy items like car chassis and voluminous pallets, according to Omron. By handling some of the tasks that would otherwise require a forklift, the new robots also help minimize safety risks for employees, noted the company.

The HD-1500 offers 360° safety coverage to promote a collaborative and safe working space, and Omron said it has improved stop-position accuracy of the Cell Alignment Positioning System (CAPS). It also has an Omron programmable logic controller (PLC).

Omron’s Fleet Manager software can control up to 100 mobile robots of different sizes, configurations, and payload capacities, so customers can manage the HD-1500 with its LD-60, LD-90 and LD-250 robots in one system.

HD-1500 features

Omron said the HD-1500 includes the following highlights:

Higher payload and sturdier structure. The HD-1500 addresses the market need to move bulky items and pallet-size payloads up to 1,500 kg (3,306.9 lb.) in factories and reduce dangerous forklift usage.

Support for highly mixed fleets. Using Omron’s Fleet Manager, customers can manage diverse fleets up to 100 mobile robots, including the HD-1500.

Faster return on investment. As the need for efficiency increases, the HD-1500 helps automate complex and dangerous tasks so that workers can do more with less equipment.

An easy-to-customize solution. The HD-1500 is easy to deploy, so customers can easily add it to their fleets without worrying about safety, compatibility, or performance.

In addition, the AMR includes these features:

• Battery charges in 36 minutes to realize greater efficiency and less downtime
• 360° safety scanning lasers used for simultaneous localization and safety functionality
• Superior navigation using adaptive safety zones with lidar technology
• Improved CAPS technology to improve docking accuracy and repeatability
• Onboard, user-accessible Omron PLC

Industry professionals interested in learning more about the HD-1500 are encouraged to visit the product page on Omron’s website.