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These guys could be interesting, at least for smaller warehouses: http://www.inviarobotics.com/ http://www.inviarobotics.com/ Despite Kiva's simplicity, the wa
by chillacy 10y ago
These guys could be interesting, at least for smaller warehouses: http://www.inviarobotics.com/ http://www.inviarobotics.com/
Despite Kiva's simplicity, the warehouse has to be designed completely for robotic use, whereas these robots navigate around existing human accessible shelves. If Kiva is railway trains, these guys are automated cars: designed for the existing world.
- Animats 10y agoInvia isn't shipping a product. They're just demoing a prototype under ideal conditions. Their robot doesn't look robust enough for a real warehouse. In a few years, they might be able to compete with Kiva, but not yet. If you have a distribution center with Kiva robots, and need to replace them now, you have a problem. A Kiva warehouse is just a big space with a flat floor. It's not like the old Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems, with their custom tracks, conveyors, and towers.[1][2] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7qr6fga3c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It7qr6fga3c [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvrP1QKsdk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvrP1QKsdk
- chillacy 10y agoYes, I am aware that kiva is a big space with a flat floor, with the floor containing taped markers and the robots taking up all the space. That's why I said "designed for robotic use". There are plenty of warehouses that are laid out more like Invia's demo than Kiva's floor, hence it would be cheaper to bring in a couple of robots to try them on vs investing in something like Kiva. I'm also aware that invia hasn't shipped yet, that's why I said "could be interesting"