The Soto mobile robot automates material supply between the warehouse and assembly line, transporting small load carriers autonomously.
Following a one-year pilot project, 12 Soto robots will automate the small load carrier supply process for engine assembly and future battery production starting in the autumn.
Markus Ruder, Magazino's project manager for the joint project with MAN, said: "The Soto robots pick up the small load carriers independently at the automated miniload warehouse and each robot brings up to 18 containers at a time to the individual assembly lines. They work in the same environment as humans and other mobile robots. At the assembly line, the Soto robots place the containers, which currently weigh 12kg, directly onto the shelves. The worker can then conveniently access the individual parts for assembly on the opposite side of the rack. The Soto robot also picks up empties autonomously and takes them to the central collection point."
The robot's adaptive gripper automatically adjusts to the corresponding container size and moves to different heights of the transfer racks. It uses machine-readable codes on the shelves and labels on the containers for identification.