Matthews Exhibits Solutions, Ways Autonomous Mobile Robots Optimize Picking at Manhattan Momentum Conference

In the Discovery Center, Pete Gerbitz, System Sales Manager, will be on hand to discuss a variety of projects that combine Lightning Pick’s light-directed fulfillment systems with Manhattan Associates’ software. Included are pick-to-light, put-to-light, pick-to-cart and pick-to-pack solutions built on the Lightning Pick’s proven, eponymous material handling software that easily interfaces with warehouse management systems (WMS) from all major vendors. Installations span a variety of industries and market verticals, including omni-channel and e-commerce retail order fulfillment, third-party logistics (3PLs), pharmaceuticals, health and beauty, and more.

Additionally, Matthews’ self-navigating Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) will be showcased in the Momentum Conference’s new Robotics Experiential Area. Offered with a variety of different attachment options that address multiple fulfillment-related applications—including materials movement and picking assistance—the featured Matthews’ AMR will be equipped with a cluster picking attachment.

The light-directed picking attachment carries multiple totes or shipping cartons, enabling the AMR to boost picking productivity and throughput by optimizing zone, batch and cluster picking without the need for conveyors, sleds or picking carts. The bots transport the order totes while the operators make picks within their zones. Each tote may represent a specific customer, store or department within a store. To start the process, the robot positions itself in an active pick zone for easy operator access. Pick-to-light or put-to-light modules direct the operator to the next stock keeping unit (SKU) required for picking.

Simultaneously, lights on the AMR’s cluster picking attachment illuminate under each container requiring that item and indicate the quantity needed of that SKU. The operator completes the picks/puts and presses the task complete button to tell the software the task is finished. The bot travels to the next required SKU for the order and the process repeats until all picks in that zone are complete. The AMR then moves to another zone for additional picks as required by the order set.

Once all picks are complete, the bot navigates its picked cartons to pack-out stations for order consolidation, packaging and shipment. Meanwhile, other AMRs continue to work with operators in their picking zones and the pickers continue to work, uninterrupted. This synchronized interaction between pick and put systems, robots and operators enables employees to concentrate on their core task—order picking.