Travel time in the pick process
In person-to-goods picking, much of each shift is walking and carrying totes to pack stations.
Robotics for warehousing and logistics
Robotx supplies and deploys mobile, cleaning and inspection robots for warehouses and 3PLs across Australia and New Zealand, moving goods so your people can focus on picking.
The pressures we hear about
Seasonal and promotional peaks
Black Friday and Christmas peaks need temporary staff recruited and inducted quickly, while the permanent team is stretched.
Forklift and pedestrian traffic
Mixed forklift and pedestrian traffic is a main warehouse safety risk and a focus of WHS traffic plans.
Large slab floors to keep clean
Pallet debris, shrink-wrap and spills affect safety, and cleaning competes with operations for aisle time.
Where robotics fits
Pick-to-pack tote transport
AMRs carry totes from pick zones to pack stations, so pickers stay in their zone.
Autonomous Material TransportInbound and dispatch moves
AMRs move cartons, cages and roll containers from receiving to put-away, or from pack benches to the dock.
Autonomous Material TransportValue-add and kitting replenishment
Robots run scheduled loops between stores and kitting benches, so operators stay at their stations.
Autonomous Material TransportAutonomous scrubbing and sweeping
Large scrubbers and sweepers clean aisles and docks on night shift or between waves, while your team handles spills.
Autonomous CleaningAfter-hours inspection and patrol
Legged robots patrol yards, racking aisles and plant rooms after hours, capturing images for security and maintenance.
Inspection & PatrolAssessing humanoid platforms for manual tasks
Humanoid platforms are being assessed for tote handling, though for most warehouse work they are still early.
Humanoid RoboticsPlatforms at work
More detailHow we scope a deployment in warehousing & logisticsOperations, lifts and access, what we assess on site, and further reading
Where AMRs fit in a warehouse
Autonomous mobile robots are good at moving goods from A to B, over and over, without being told how to get there. In most warehouses and distribution centres, that job is currently done by people walking totes to pack stations, pushing cages to the dock, or driving a pallet jack for a short hop that ties up equipment and an operator.
The strongest early candidates are usually the most repetitive routes. Pick-to-pack transport in an each-pick operation is a common starting point, because it keeps pickers in their zones and smooths the flow of work to packing. Inbound staging, dispatch lanes and kitting replenishment follow similar logic. Full pallet movement over long distances is a different category of equipment, and we will tell you if your problem is better solved another way.
Floor care is the other quick win. Large slab floors suit autonomous scrubbers and sweepers that run overnight or between waves, and the cleaning budget can then go on spills and detail work.
Integration, traffic management and your WHS obligations
The technical questions in warehousing are about systems and safety. On systems, the choice is between simple triggers (a tablet, a button, a scan) and integration with your WMS or WCS. Starting simple is often sensible, then integrating once the routes are stable.
On safety, AMRs change your traffic management plan. They need defined routes, crossing points with forklift traffic, and staff who understand how the robots behave. We work through this with your WHS and operations leads so the robots are written into the plan from the start.
How Robotx scopes a logistics deployment
We start with a consultation and a site assessment, walking the floor during operations and reviewing your volumes, shift patterns and layout. You then receive a written proposal covering equipment, integration, deployment, training and support. Your operations team runs the fleet day to day, with Robotx responsible for configuration changes, servicing, parts and warranty claims.
Robotics in warehousing & logistics: common questions
Have a question about your site? Talk to a specialist.
What is an AMR and how is it different from an AGV?
An autonomous mobile robot (AMR) navigates using onboard sensors and a map of your site, plans its own route and goes around obstacles. A traditional automated guided vehicle (AGV) follows fixed paths such as magnetic tape or wires. AMRs are generally quicker to re-route when layouts change, which suits warehouses that re-slot or reconfigure often.
Do AMRs need to be integrated with our WMS?
Not always. Many sites start with missions triggered from a tablet, a call button or a barcode scan, which needs no WMS work at all. Integration with your WMS or WCS can follow once the routes are working and the benefit is clear. We scope both options and explain what each involves before you commit.
Can AMRs work safely alongside forklifts and pedestrians?
Yes, with planning. AMRs detect people and obstacles and slow down or stop, but forklifts bring a different level of risk. We review your traffic management plan and recommend where AMRs can share aisles, where they need dedicated lanes or controlled crossing points, and what signage and training your team needs.
How much does warehouse automation with AMRs cost?
The number of robots, payload type, building size, integration scope and shift pattern all drive the cost. Robots are bought outright. Our written proposal, prepared after we have walked the floor during operations, breaks out equipment, integration, deployment, training and support so you can model it against your own labour and throughput figures.
How long does it take to deploy AMRs in a distribution centre?
It depends on scope. A single tote-transport route with manual dispatch is much quicker to deploy than a WMS-integrated fleet across several zones. We map, configure and test routes around live operations and train staff in stages. The proposal includes a deployment plan with timing agreed with your operations team.
Are humanoid robots ready for warehouse work?
For most sites, not yet as a core part of operations. Humanoid and wheeled embodied-AI platforms are developing quickly and can suit some structured, repetitive tasks. AMRs and autonomous cleaners are the practical starting point for most warehouses today. If humanoid platforms are on your roadmap, we can help you assess them honestly against your processes.
Tell us where your operation loses time.
A Robotx consultation starts with your sites, tasks and constraints. We’ll tell you where robotics fits and where it doesn’t, and what a sensible first deployment would look like.