Choosing an Autonomous Mobile Robot is not simply a matter of comparing payload capacity and price.

Different industries have different materials, production processes, safety requirements and operating environments.

An AMR that performs well in an electronics factory may not be suitable for a heavy machinery plant, cold-storage warehouse or food-processing facility.

The following factors should be evaluated before selecting an AMR.

1. Define the Application

The first question should be:

What transport task will the robot perform?

Common applications include:

• Moving material racks
• Transporting pallets
• Towing carts
• Delivering components
• Moving work-in-process products
• Returning empty containers
• Connecting production lines
• Replenishing warehouse inventory
• Transporting finished products

The application determines the required robot body, load-handling mechanism and navigation configuration.

For example:

• A low-profile AMR is suitable for moving underneath racks.
• A towing robot is suitable for pulling several carts.
• An automated forklift is suitable for pallet pickup and stacking.
• A conveyor-top AMR is suitable for automatic transfer between conveyors.

2. Calculate the Required Payload

The rated payload must include more than the product weight.

The calculation should include:

• Material weight
• Pallet or rack weight
• Fixture weight
• Container weight
• Safety allowance

For example, if the transported material weighs 700kg and the rack weighs 180kg, a 1,000kg AMR may provide insufficient reserve under certain operating conditions.

The center of gravity is also important.

A high or uneven load may require:

• A wider robot platform
• Reduced travel speed
• Additional load restraints
• A different lifting structure
• Modified acceleration settings

Always provide the supplier with the maximum real operating load.

3. Select the Load-Handling Method

The robot must connect with the transported material safely and consistently.

Common handling methods include:

Lifting

The AMR moves beneath a rack and lifts it.

Suitable for:

• Material carts
• Mobile shelves
• Line-side racks

Towing

The robot connects to one or more carts.

Suitable for:

• Long-distance transport
• Production milk runs
• Automotive assembly logistics

Conveyor transfer

The AMR uses a powered roller or belt conveyor.

Suitable for:

• Production-line connection
• Automated loading
• Packaging processes

Fork handling

The robot uses forks to collect pallets.

Suitable for:

• Warehouse transport
• Rack storage
• Pallet stacking

The carrier or pallet should be standardized wherever possible. Damaged, inconsistent or poorly positioned carriers can reduce automatic docking reliability.

4. Evaluate Navigation Technology

Different navigation technologies are suitable for different environments.

Magnetic guidance

Advantages:

• Stable route
• Predictable movement
• Simple control

Suitable for:

• Fixed production routes
• Repetitive transport
• Stable layouts

Limitations:

• Physical guidance installation
• Lower route flexibility
• More work when layouts change

QR-code navigation

Advantages:

• Relatively simple deployment
• Good positioning support
• Controlled route management

Suitable for:

• Warehouses
• Structured factory environments

Limitations:

• Floor markers require maintenance
• Markers must remain visible

Laser SLAM

Advantages:

• Natural-feature navigation
• Flexible route planning
• Less physical guidance infrastructure
• Suitable for changing layouts

Suitable for:

• Flexible manufacturing
• Mixed traffic
• Multiple destinations

Visual SLAM

Advantages:

• Uses environmental visual information
• Can provide detailed localization
• Suitable for complex environments

Limitations may include sensitivity to lighting, visual changes or environmental conditions, depending on the system.

Many industrial systems use multiple sensors or hybrid navigation to improve reliability.

5. Determine the Required Positioning Accuracy

Navigation accuracy and final docking accuracy are not always the same.

General material transport may tolerate moderate positioning variation.

Automatic equipment interaction may require much higher accuracy.

High-accuracy applications include:

• Conveyor transfer
• Machine loading
• Automated pallet pickup
• Charging-station docking
• Production-equipment connection
• Battery material handling

The supplier should know:

• Required navigation accuracy
• Required repeat positioning accuracy
• Required docking accuracy
• Whether secondary positioning is available

Mechanical guides, QR codes, reflectors or vision systems may be used to improve final docking accuracy.

6. Analyze the Operating Environment

The robot must be designed for the actual facility conditions.

Important factors include:

• Floor flatness
• Floor gaps
• Slopes
• Dust
• Humidity
• Temperature
• Lighting
• Oil contamination
• Outdoor exposure
• Cleanliness
• Electromagnetic interference

Special industries may require additional features.

Food and beverage

Possible requirements:

• Easy-to-clean surfaces
• Corrosion resistance
• Moisture protection
• Hygienic materials

Pharmaceutical

Possible requirements:

• Cleanroom-compatible materials
• Low-particle operation
• Traceability
• Controlled access

Battery manufacturing

Possible requirements:

• High docking accuracy
• Clean operation
• Antistatic design
• Equipment interlocking
• Special fire-safety measures

Cold storage

Possible requirements:

• Low-temperature batteries
• Condensation management
• Temperature-rated sensors
• Special lubricants

7. Evaluate Safety Requirements

Industrial mobile robots operate close to people and other equipment.

Typical safety devices include:

• Safety laser scanners
• Emergency-stop buttons
• Collision sensors
• Warning lights
• Audible alarms
• Speed monitoring
• Configurable safety fields
• Load detection

ISO 3691-4:2023 specifies safety requirements and verification methods for driverless industrial trucks and their systems, covering equipment described as AGVs, AMRs, automated carts and under-cart vehicles.

For North American applications, ANSI/A3 R15.08-1 covers industrial mobile robot design requirements, while R15.08-2 covers industrial mobile robot systems and their integration into applications.

Buyers should evaluate both the robot and the complete application, including:

• Travel routes
• Load stability
• Worker crossings
• Blind corners
• Maximum speed
• Braking distance
• Docking areas
• Emergency procedures

8. Calculate Battery and Charging Requirements

Battery selection affects robot availability and fleet size.

Important information includes:

• Operating hours per shift
• Number of shifts
• Average mission duration
• Travel distance
• Load weight
• Waiting time
• Charging time
• Battery life
• Charging-station location

Common charging strategies include:

Scheduled charging

Robots charge during breaks or between shifts.

Suitable for operations with clear downtime.

Opportunity charging

Robots charge automatically during short idle periods.

Suitable for continuous or multi-shift operation.

Battery replacement

The battery is manually or automatically replaced.

Suitable for high-utilization applications where charging downtime must be minimized.

The supplier should calculate whether the robot can complete the required missions while maintaining a safe battery reserve.

9. Confirm Fleet Management Capability

A single robot may operate with simple task control.

A larger fleet requires a management system capable of:

• Assigning missions
• Selecting available robots
• Managing traffic
• Preventing congestion
• Monitoring battery levels
• Controlling charging
• Managing priorities
• Recording alarms
• Displaying robot status
• Generating operational reports

Ask the supplier:

• How many robots can the system manage?
• Can different robot models share the same platform?
• Can mission priorities be configured?
• Can traffic rules be customized?
• Can the system integrate with third-party software?
• Is remote diagnostics available?

10. Check Software Integration

The AMR may need to communicate with:

• WMS
• WCS
• MES
• ERP
• SAP
• PLC systems
• Conveyor systems
• Production equipment
• Automatic doors
• Elevators

Confirm the available interfaces before purchasing.

Possible interfaces include:

• REST API
• SDK
• OPC UA
• Modbus TCP
• Digital I/O
• PLC communication

The buyer should also define responsibility for software development, testing and long-term support.

11. Estimate the Required Fleet Size

Fleet size depends on:

• Mission frequency
• Route distance
• Robot speed
• Loading time
• Unloading time
• Waiting time
• Charging requirements
• Traffic congestion
• Peak demand
• Backup capacity

A basic calculation should not use only average daily volume.

The system must also handle peak production periods.

Simulation or digital modeling can help estimate:

• Robot utilization
• Queue time
• Traffic conflicts
• Charging demand
• Mission completion rate

12. Assess Supplier Support

A technically capable supplier should provide more than robot hardware.

Evaluate whether the supplier can provide:

• Application analysis
• Route planning
• Fleet configuration
• Software integration
• Safety documentation
• Installation guidance
• Commissioning
• Employee training
• Remote support
• Spare parts
• Software updates

For export projects, also confirm:

• English documentation
• Time-zone support
• Remote diagnostics
• Local partner support
• Warranty terms
• Spare-parts delivery
• OEM availability

AMR Selection Checklist

Before requesting a quotation, prepare:

• Application description
• Maximum payload
• Load dimensions
• Carrier drawings
• Pickup and delivery points
• Factory layout
• Route distance
• Required missions per hour
• Operating shifts
• Floor conditions
• Aisle width
• Required docking accuracy
• Charging requirements
• Software interfaces
• Safety requirements
• Environmental conditions

Providing this information helps suppliers recommend the correct model and prepare a more accurate quotation.

Conclusion

The right AMR is determined by the complete application, not by one technical parameter.

Manufacturers should evaluate payload, load handling, navigation, safety, battery, environment, docking accuracy, fleet control and system integration together.

HITREE provides standardized AMR and AGV products for automotive, electronics, new-energy, food, pharmaceutical and general manufacturing applications.

Our product range includes under-riding AMRs, towing robots, pallet transport AMRs and automated forklift solutions.