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This is very insightful! Surely there's capacity to double or even triple the number of storage bins in existing warehouses by expanding vertically. Humans are

This is very insightful! Surely there's capacity to double or even triple the number of storage bins in existing warehouses by expanding vertically. Humans are limited to 6 ft but robots have no vertical limit. In the future, warehouses could be as tall as skyscrapers with full vertical pickability.

brianwawok 4y ago
For sure. You can also cut heat and AC a lot in a robot warehouse. Meaning even if it was 50% more square feet for the same stuff, it should be a lot cheaper to operate,
- L_Rahman 4y ago
  If you think humans are heat and humidity sensitive for their productivity, I have some news for you about robot servos.
mabbo 4y ago
Expanding vertically? Nope. The storage part of the warehouse is typically 4 levels with ten foot ceilings. They have always been under these space constraints and have absolutely already optimized for space vertically. You could build a taller warehouse, but there's a standard height and there are, I believe, often building code things to prevent taller towers like that. And again, if it was reasonable to do it already, they'd have gone taller already.
- ridgeguy 4y ago
  How about excavating? Keep the external height limit but get more vertical space.
  - bobthepanda 4y ago
    Excavation is very expensive. For the limited subset of a parking garage, which generally has much lower ceilings than is normal for other uses, the cost of one underground parking space is around $30,000.
- Jun8 4y ago
  I work on projects T&L space and this does not fit my experience, in fact large warehouses and DCs are getting taller and most currently are much taller than 10’. Order pickers routinely pick or store items from the 5th and higher levels. Maybe you have in mind a local warehouse?
citizenpaul 4y ago
I don't know for sure but I think building, OSHA, and various other regulations would probably make problems for getting a highly unique building like this built. Plus the reason most warehouses don't build up is building up is expensive. Most warehouses are in cheap land areas so building out is more cost effective.

brianwawok 4y ago

For sure. You can also cut heat and AC a lot in a robot warehouse. Meaning even if it was 50% more square feet for the same stuff, it should be a lot cheaper to operate,

L_Rahman 4y ago
If you think humans are heat and humidity sensitive for their productivity, I have some news for you about robot servos.

mabbo 4y ago

Expanding vertically? Nope. The storage part of the warehouse is typically 4 levels with ten foot ceilings. They have always been under these space constraints and have absolutely already optimized for space vertically. You could build a taller warehouse, but there's a standard height and there are, I believe, often building code things to prevent taller towers like that. And again, if it was reasonable to do it already, they'd have gone taller already.

ridgeguy 4y ago
How about excavating? Keep the external height limit but get more vertical space.
- bobthepanda 4y ago
  Excavation is very expensive. For the limited subset of a parking garage, which generally has much lower ceilings than is normal for other uses, the cost of one underground parking space is around $30,000.
Jun8 4y ago
I work on projects T&L space and this does not fit my experience, in fact large warehouses and DCs are getting taller and most currently are much taller than 10’. Order pickers routinely pick or store items from the 5th and higher levels. Maybe you have in mind a local warehouse?

citizenpaul 4y ago

I don't know for sure but I think building, OSHA, and various other regulations would probably make problems for getting a highly unique building like this built. Plus the reason most warehouses don't build up is building up is expensive. Most warehouses are in cheap land areas so building out is more cost effective.