Engineers designed Kiva Systems' robotic warehouse
vehicle fleet and support infrastructure, but creating the traffic pattern algorithm that optimizes locomotion,
navigation, and servicing (charging, repair, etc.), was almost certainly the work
of mathematicians. This is the ultimate automated storage and retrieval syste (AS/RS),
although Kiva is loathe to call it that. As you watch the video, be sure to note the way the robots lift pallets,
run through aisle ways with clearances of only a few inches, affect the stop-and-go and right-of-way procedures
to avoid collisions and flow bottlenecks, and finally deliver products to their intended 'pickers' at the packing
stations. I'm guessing there are also sensors onboard that detect and correct potential tipping and payload rocking/resonance
issues. Onboard smarts combine with wireless signaling to prevent utter chaos.
"Just how good is Kiva Systems?," you might ask. To answer that I'll refer you to the old TV advertisement where
Victor Kiam(former New England Patriots owner) says, "I liked
this Remington Microscreen rechargeable shaver so much, I bought the company."
Amazon must have felt the same way about
Kiva Systems because they bought the company in 2012 based on the success of their own order fulfillment warehouse
implementation.
Those opposed to such automated systems claim that they displace human workers, but they ignore the many people
employed to design, build, deliver, install, and maintain the systems. Going through life with blinders on is a
great disadvantage. I bestow the adjective clause 'low information person' to such types who are members of a rapidly
growing population that unfortunately have voting rights.
Kiva Systems' Robotic Warehouse Retrieval System
Victor Kiam: "I liked this Remington Microscreen rechargeable shave so much,
I bought the company"(starts at 1:17)
RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling
2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed
formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit
design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at
the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps
while tying up your telephone line, and a nice lady's voice announced "You've Got
Mail" when a new message arrived...
Copyright 1996 - 2026
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images
and text used on the RF Cafe website are hereby acknowledged.
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images
and text used on the RF Cafe website are hereby acknowledged.
