Supporting people working in the warehouse while sustaining growth is one of Exotec’s commitments. At the beginning of 2021, this commitment was translated into the launch of an automated picking module that completes the Skypod system order preparation solution: the Skypicker. This innovation is focused on serving productivity and workplace strains reduction.
The demand for automated picking solutions is expected to reach an estimated $1.67 billion by 2025. This is a 62.5% increase driven by the growth of e-commerce. From food to clothing, pharmacy, industry, cultural or high-tech goods, companies in constant search of agility and performance are looking for dedicated solutions. The Skypicker, an automated picking arm integrated as a plug & play module in the Skypod system, was born from this ambition. Its advantages include doubling picking capacity, eliminating the most tedious tasks and reducing the work strain for operators.
Technique, Intelligence and Innovation United in a Global Logistics Solution
More specifically, the Skypicker is an articulated arm able to move solid objects weighing less than 4.4 lbs and with a minimum surface of .8 x .8 inches at a speed of 4.5 mph. It is also equipped with its own order mover allowing simultaneous preparation of up to four orders at a time. The Skypicker is controlled by the Astar software – also driving the Skypod System – in an enclosed and secure environment that guarantees the safety of the operators. Astar synchronizes the articulated arm with the robots operating in the warehouse and defines which bin to send to the picking station. All this is supported by a high-resolution camera and mathematical visualization algorithms.
The Skypicker can reach outputs of up to 600 items per hour and ensure sustained order picking of prehensile products, which account for 30 to 50% of the items in the cosmetics, health, high tech, cultural and food sectors.
“We will expand these features and are already testing new claw-based gripping systems”