Background of the demonstration experiment

With the declining birthrate and the shrinking working population, the retail industry is facing the urgent need for automation. In the retail industry, automation is more difficult than in the manufacturing and logistics industries due to the large number of stores, the complexity of the work, and the required flexibility.

In particular, the burden of unloading work is heavy in store operations. Every morning, a series of tasks such as sorting products delivered from logistics centers, transporting them to the corresponding display shelves, and arranging them on the shelves is a manual labor-intensive task.

To solve the above issues, FUJI, which has been working on industrial equipment for many years, and Industry Alpha, which has attracted attention in recent years for developing and introducing cutting-edge autonomous robots (AMRs) for factories and warehouses, will collaborate to implement an AMR system for retail and conduct a demonstration experiment to realize smart retail stores. Specifically, the robot will sort baskets loaded with products overnight and transport them to the front of the display shelves. As a result, the only manual task that is required in the morning is to simply arrange the products on the shelves from the carts that have been transported close to the desired display shelves, automating the burdensome unloading process.

Demonstration experiment scheme

In this demonstration experiment, FUJI developed the main AMR machine, and Industry Alpha developed and implemented the FMS, which is the host system.

【Features of FUJI’s AMR】

Can transport existing basket carts owned by retailers

By simply attaching a tag to the basket cart, the AMR can automatically recognize and enter the basket cart even in the dark

AMR automatically recognizes the basket cart category (ex. beverages, cans, etc.)

Based on the recognition results, it transports the basket cart to the appropriate area by category (ex. beverage basket carts in front of the beverage shelves)

With the above features, this AMR automatically recognizes basket carts prepared in the back yard, etc. in the pitch black store after closing time, enters the cart, determines its destination, and automatically transports the basket cart to the appropriate display shelf.

In actual operation, AMRs are sometimes operated in groups of more than one. Therefore, we will utilize Industry Alpha’s FMS, which has know-how and experience in controlling multiple AMRs, and through a demonstration experiment, we will verify the efficiency of in-store logistics by controlling multiple AMRs.

Features of Industry Alpha’s FMS

Can connect not only to our own AMRs but also to AMRs and AGVs made by other companies

Realize flexible function addition and editing without using OSS, etc.

Can be linked to various peripheral devices such as elevators and arms (without manufacturer specification)

FMS is a system that controls AMRs at a higher level. Industry Alpha originally developed and introduced AMRs for the manufacturing and logistics industries such as Kaghel. In the process, we actually tried using various FMSs including OSS, etc., and designed and developed a new FMS to realize one that can fully guarantee practicality and scalability, and developed it independently by having major Japanese software development companies participate in part of the development.

Industry Alpha’s FMS has a system configuration that can link with a variety of devices, enabling centralized control of the company’s AMRs and foreign-made AGVs, and has also achieved linkage with elevators using PLC linkage and construction-free methods. Functions such as vehicle dispatch control and route generation can also be flexibly implemented, and in this demonstration experiment, we are confident that we can provide value through an FMS that enables smooth AMR operation even in a new environment for Industry Alpha, such as a retail store. The features of Industry Alpha’s FMS, which can extract needs for each site and manage and operate on-site, should be fully demonstrated in this demonstration experiment.

Future developments

Currently, Fuji is leading a demonstration experiment in an actual retail store, and we intend to identify issues through the experiment and use them as a basis for future development. In the next phase, we are considering demonstration experiments in stores with narrower aisles and linking with peripheral devices such as elevators.

As Industry Alpha, we will continue to aim to automate not only manufacturing, logistics, and retail, but also various industries and various sites by utilizing an FMS that can be connected to various robots.

AICHI INNOVATION DAY 2024

FUJI and Industry Alpha will be jointly presenting at AICHI INNOVATION DAY 2024 to introduce this open innovation initiative and its future direction.

Reference URL：https://stationai.co.jp/annd-program#day1p1515d

About FUJI Corporation

FUJI CORPORATION is a global company that develops, manufactures, and sells electronic component mounting robots and machine tools. Since its founding in 1959, the company has continued to innovate with an eye on the future, based on ever-evolving robotics and automation technologies, and aims for sustainable growth as a robot company. In fields where robotics are expected to play an important role, such as manufacturing, nursing care, and logistics, FUJI creates new value for society by delivering products and services that surprise and impress people “for a fulfilling life,” and contributes to the realization of a sustainable and fulfilling society where people’s smiles abound.

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