MARKET WATCH
Robot streamlines
food deliveries in a pilot trial An autonomous mobile robot has been seen moving around the corridors of the Redi shopping centre in Kalasatama, a neighbourhood in Helsinki, Finland.
O
perated by Omron’s solution partner Dimalog, the robot was taking part in a month-long ‘Home-on Demand’
automated courier service trial. This is testing the potential for using autonomous robots for deliveries to urban homes. It’s part of a larger experiment called the Six City Strategy ‘New solutions in city logistics’ project, which is investigating all possible options for last mile deliveries in Finnish cities. It’s looking for solutions that will organise urban logistics as lightly, sustainably and efficiently as possible.
REFINING THE ROBOT Omron, Dimalog and Muotohiomo worked together to refine the operation and design of the robot so that they met the specific needs of the project. To move around successfully, the robot had to navigate the supermarket and tower block corridors as using elevators and service tunnels. As it moved, the robot both whistled and talked in Finnish (using a speech synthesiser). Lotta Toivonen, development manager for Housing Services at SRV (which built both the shopping centre and the Majakka tower block) comments, “The idea of whistling is that it’s
“Mobile robots can dramatically boost the productivity of logistics operations. They can navigate effectively and provide invaluable support to human workers. This enables employees to focus on other tasks that require complex human skills”
a funny thing. On the other hand, people also
The robot used on the trial was an Omron LD model - a self-navigating autonomous mobile robot (AMR). Unlike traditional autonomously guided vehicles (AGVs), Omron’s mobile robots don’t need any expensive modifications to facilities (such as floor magnets or navigational beacons). They navigate by the natural features of the facility, having been designed to move material within challenging environments that might include confined passageways, as well as locations where there might be people moving around. Omron’s software also integrates with a company’s other systems so that the robots can become operational in minimal time. Esa Korhonen, area sales mnager at
realise that the robot is coming. It speaks a bit, and people greet it. It is treated as if it
loaded by staff into the robot, which would
was a person.” Kaisa Spilling of Forum Virium
then deliver the order to the relevant business
adds, “It’s been fun to see how people along
or apartment. The customer would receive an
the way feel like it’s human. It might say in the
automatic notification as soon as the robot
elevator, ‘I’m sorry I would like to get out here’
delivered the item. Kaisi Spilling remarks,
or ‘Oops, the elevator is full, I’ll ask to use
“During the coronavirus epidemic, the robot
another elevator.’”
has brought lunches for homeworkers. Lunch time has been fully booked.”
RUNNING THE TRIAL
SELF-NAVIGATING ROBOTS
Throughout the trial, the robot could
So, how did the trial work? Each delivery
request an elevator itself but needed an
started with the receipt of an online order
escort to open any doors that might have to
from a customer using the Asumi platform.
be kept closed due to fire safety regulations.
Orders could also be placed through the
The escort was a university service design
supermarket by the shopping centre's
student, who reported any problems
smaller businesses. The items (mainly meals)
encountered by the robot and observed its
would be collected at the supermarket and
interaction with people.
Omron in Finland explains, “Our mobile robots can dramatically boost the productivity of logistics operations. They can navigate effectively and provide invaluable support to human workers. This enables employees to focus on other tasks that require complex human skills.” Kaisi Spilling concludes, “We are looking for new agile logistics solutions in the city. We are exploring how we could improve the smoothness of everyday life in building the future. Robotics is essentially related to a smooth everyday life.” •
Omron – www.industrial.omron.co.za
FOOD REVIEW | FEBRUARY 2021
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