Automate Mixed Palletizing with Neuroscience-Inspired AI

Automate Mixed Palletizing with Neuroscience-Inspired AI

The process of mixed palletizing – the practice of packing various sized products on the same pallet – is at the core of modern logistic optimization for companies that handle a wide variety of products, like Third Party Logistics (3PL) and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. It enables them to ship mixed pallets directly to the end consumer, whether it be a department store, grocery store, or wholesaler, greatly lowering cost and risks associated with shipping and logistics.

Automating these mixed-palletizing operations reduces operating cost, dramatically lowers errors, and eliminates labor injuries associated with the manual palletizing process.

Indeed, existing manual workflows require multiple scanning or checking points, which is not only cumbersome but also prone to human error. With automation also comes higher order accuracy, eliminating the chance of shipping incorrect products or other costs associated with mis-shipments or incomplete orders. Moreover, automation eliminates high risk motions of lifting heavy boxes, which causes lower back injuries.

Yet mixed palletization has been very difficult to automate so far. Traditional solutions leave much to be desired – the need for fixturing, bulky equipment, and inefficient stacking solutions negate the savings many 3PL and CPG companies might see. Vicarious, a robotic system integrator powered by neuroscience-inspired AI, has developed a cutting-edge solution to mixed palletizing that provides several benefits over traditional offers.

First, our proprietary vision system can automatically detect new product types based on size, type of material, and more. Combining this with industrial robotics arms makes it possible to grasp an inbound SKU of any size at any orientation, completely eliminating the need for fixturing.

Second, our solution automatically designs the optimal spatial layout of a mixed pallet once incoming product types are detected, so that operators do not have to explicitly program a certain layout.

Third, our solution reduces the required footprint (warehousing space is expensive, whatever space not used for shelving products being a missed revenue opportunity). Conventional palletizing systems take up precious square footage because of the number of conveyors required for presorting SKUs before the mixed palletizing process can even begin. With Vicarious, there is no such need for presorting.

Fourth, our robotics systems are easily scalable to meet higher demands or new product lines, giving customers the flexibility to use their space efficiently.

These advancements in mixed palletizing from Vicarious are made possible by our unique neuroscience-inspired AI technology, enabling us to handle versatile tasks beyond the reach of traditional hard coded automation.

Companies across the world are joining Vicarious at the cutting edge of robotics research and design. Reap the benefits of modern automation with no strings attached.