RV in smart warehouse initiative

News Feed

Thursday, 27 April 2017

RV Automation Technology Company Limited has introduced the first Hong Kong-based smart warehouse system with advanced robotics in Greater China - in partnership with DHL Supply Chain.

RV next will collaborate with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to further optimise the smart warehouse system.

It is expected the technology will help different industries revolutionise their traditional warehouses and embrace the automation era.

The success of the smart warehouse system will also broaden the opportunities in smart manufacturing and personalised consumption.

"From receiving, to categorising, arranging, storing, stock-taking, picking and packing, various warehouse management strategies rely heavily on human data entry and management, causing variations in accuracy and efficiency in warehouse management," said Rio Chau, chief executive RV.

"The repetitive and tedious work is also a big challenge for recruitment. Furthermore, the growing personalised consumer market and e-commerce trends reveal the traditional warehouse model is unable to nimbly respond to small orders and increasing contact points, at present and in the future."

RV's holistic smart warehouse system incorporates automated robotics technology to ensure accuracy while increasing the warehouse storage space and operation efficiency.

The system is comprised of several key features,  the key one being an autonomous mobile robot that can adapt to the changing surroundings.

Its application can increase the efficiency in delivering the merchandise from shelf to workstation and maximise the use of the storage areas.

One other key feature of the system is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)-based Robotic Put-away and Picking Workstation. IIoT helps accurately locate the merchandise and maximise the storage capacity of each layer of mobile racks.

The technology also includes a Cloud-based Swarm Robotic Control System which acts as the brain of the entire system, responsible for controlling the movement of the mobile robots and the operations of put-away and picking workstations.

Chau pointed out that the technology is all about tackling customers' needs and future operational challenges. Its development comes from a macro and automation approach to respond to complicated and specific personalised market needs. 

"The shifting of traditional, labour-intensive operation to smart robotic automation model also helps companies to retain skilled labour. We are excited about the future of robotics technology," said Chau.

Professor Keith Chan, head of industrial and systems engineering, PolyU said: "Industry 4.0 is driving the next industrial revolution - logistics must be more agile, diverse, flexible and intelligent."

To foster understanding and change the current mindset in industries, RV recently performed a real-life demonstration showcasing the Integrated Smart Warehouse with advanced robotics technology.

The demonstration, staged in Science Park, helped industries to gain a clearer picture of the operation and advantages of the service. It also allowed them to review the existing traditional model and understand future business needs.

Albert Wong, chief executive, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) said: "HKSTP has been driving the development of Industry 4.0 and supporting innovation and technology. Advanced technology enables a more-personalised manufacturing and consumption model. The major bottleneck for the development is warehouse and storage. RV's solution breaks through barriers to help manufacturers and commercial enterprises surpass the traditional model to embark on a new era of small scale production and a personalised distribution model. The system is fully scalable. It can be widely adopted to meet the needs and structures of different businesses."