Omron Adept has unveiled its latest industrial mobile robot designed to boost productivity in factories throughout Australia.
Clients and key staff members were given a sneak peek at the self-navigating Lynx Mobile Autonomous Indoor Vehicle (AIV) at special demonstrations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane late last year – before its official launch next month.
The Lynx AIV is designed for dynamically moving material in challenging environments – including confined passageways and workplaces with staff on the move.
Omron’s Automation Technology Product Manager Chris Probst treated guests to a live demonstration to illustrate the capabilities of this highly versatile mobile workplace robot.
Unlike traditional autonomously guided vehicles (AGVs), Lynx requires no facility modifications, such as floor magnets or navigational beacons, saving users up to 15% in deployment costs, Mr Probst explained.
Lynx includes Adept's proprietary software and controls allowing it to intelligently navigate around people and unplanned obstacles, that render traditional AGVs incapacitated. It can be programmed and functional within a day.
“We call it disruptive mobile technology,” Mr Probst said.
“It’s ideal for any industry that transports materials with payloads up to 100kg.
“Such loads are normally pushed around by humans, but this ‘low-value’ work can now be done by a Lynx AIV.
“The Lynx doesn’t get tired or injured, it doesn’t take sickies and it doesn’t make mistakes.”
Omron Adept are the market leaders in mobile robot technology with the largest deployment of industrial AIVs.
The Lynx Mobile AIV can be used for a broad range of applications and industrial sectors including:
- Automotive
- Food & beverage
- Pharmaceutical
- Chemical
- Digital
- Semi-conductor
In manufacturing they are ideal for:
- Work in progress (WIP)
- Workcell replenishment
- Lineside replenishment
- Finished goods inventory (FGI)
As well as distribution (warehouses, distribution centres):
- Running
- Put-away
- Order picking
- Storage
And with Adept’s Enterprise Manager – hardware and software developed over many years – businesses can run a fleet of up to 100 Lynx mobile AIVs.
Mr Probst says the new technology will assist industry to:
- Drive down production costs
- Improve yield & traceability
- Support lean manufacturing
- Eliminate errors
“With Lynx there are no time delays, errors, incorrect picking or parts being lost.
“Lynx is always 100% correct – it doesn’t get lost or go to the wrong warehouse or bay location.”
Mr Probst says the main benefits with the Lynx are improved traceability, user-friendly software, a reliable drive system, on-board power supply and runtime of up to 19 hours a day.
Remarkably, ROI is anywhere between 6-18 months depending on how many shifts a day a business operates.
The Lynx can be adapted to suit any workplace environment, Mr Probst says.
“It is only limited by your imagination.
“Lynx is part of the new age of industrial automation – the new industrial revolution.
“It is a highly competitive environment out there and those organisations that don’t embrace the new technology will be left behind.”
