What is a robot forklift?
A robot forklift is a semi-autonomous or autonomous mobile robot designed to perform traditional forklift tasks such as lifting, moving, and placing palletized goods without human intervention. Modern robot forklifts have evolved to include advanced capabilities like autonomous trailer loading and unloading, enabling them to automate dock workflows and logistics operations.
Are robot forklifts safe to work around humans?
Robot forklifts can operate independently or in coordination with human workers. Equipped with a variety of sensors, such as LiDAR and cameras, and powered by AI and sophisticated algorithms such as SLAM and vision-based perception, robot forklifts navigate complex dock, warehouse, and industrial environments safely and efficiently.
What are the benefits of robot forklifts?
They can identify pallets in any orientation and handle them. For example, trailer loading and unloading functions allow these forklifts to pick and place pallets inside truck trailers autonomously, optimizing inbound and outbound dock operations.
This way, they improve throughput and labor efficiency by automating repetitive, physically demanding, and safety-critical tasks at the loading dock. Some systems integrate tightly with warehouse management systems (WMS), enabling seamless material flow from trailers to storage or manufacturing areas.
