Autonomous Mobile Robots are becoming an important part of modern manufacturing logistics.
They can transport materials, components, racks, pallets and work-in-process products between warehouses, production lines and inspection areas.
The rapid growth of transportation and logistics robots shows the increasing demand for automated material movement. According to the International Federation of Robotics, transportation and logistics accounted for more than half of professional service robot sales in 2024, with approximately 102,900 units sold.
Below are some of the most practical AMR applications in manufacturing.
1. Production-Line Material Supply
Production lines require a continuous supply of components, packaging and raw materials.
When these materials are delivered manually, production may be affected by:
- Late deliveries
- Incorrect quantities
- Unbalanced workloads
- Excessive worker movement
- Forklift congestion
- Poor visibility of material status
AMRs can move materials from a central warehouse or supermarket area to line-side stations.
Tasks can be generated manually or automatically through:
- Manufacturing Execution Systems
- Warehouse Management Systems
- Call buttons
- Production signals
- Digital kanban systems
- Fleet management software
This application is widely used in automotive, electronics, home-appliance and machinery manufacturing.
2. Work-in-Process Transportation
Many products move through several production stages before completion.
Examples include:
- Machining
- Welding
- Assembly
- Painting
- Inspection
- Testing
- Packaging
AMRs can transport work-in-process materials between these stages.
The robot may carry:
- Trays
- Trolleys
- Shelves
- Pallets
- Custom fixtures
- Material racks
Automating this process helps manufacturers reduce waiting time and improve traceability between production steps.
3. Under-Riding Rack Transportation
An under-riding AMR moves beneath a rack or cart, lifts it and transports it to another location.
This is one of the most standardized AMR applications.
It is suitable for:
- Material racks
- Component carts
- Workstation replenishment
- Empty-container returns
- Kitting operations
- Flexible assembly lines
Typical payload capacities may range from several hundred kilograms to more than one tonne, depending on the model.
Under-riding robots are attractive because existing carts and racks can often be adapted for automated transport without replacing the complete material-handling system.
4. Pallet Transportation
Pallet transport is commonly performed by manual pallet trucks and forklifts.
Autonomous pallet-handling solutions can include:
- Forklift AGVs
- Autonomous stackers
- Pallet-moving AMRs
- Conveyor-top AMRs
- Counterbalanced automated forklifts
They can move pallets between:
- Receiving areas
- Storage locations
- Production lines
- Buffer zones
- Packaging areas
- Shipping docks
Before deployment, the supplier must assess pallet condition, fork-entry accuracy, load stability, aisle width, floor quality and docking requirements.
5. Towing and Tugging
A towing AGV or AMR can pull multiple material carts in one mission.
This application is particularly suitable for:
- Automotive assembly
- Large manufacturing plants
- Milk-run logistics
- Scheduled line feeding
- Empty-container collection
- Long-distance internal transport
Towing systems can reduce the number of individual transport trips and support high-volume material movement.
For highly stable production routes, a conventional towing AGV may be sufficient. In more dynamic environments, an autonomous towing robot may provide greater route flexibility.
6. Warehouse Replenishment
Factories often operate both a warehouse and a production area.
AMRs can connect these two environments by automatically transporting goods based on replenishment demand.
A typical process may be:
- Production station requests materials.
- WMS or MES creates a transport mission.
- Fleet software assigns an available AMR.
- The robot collects the load.
- The material is delivered to the required station.
- The robot receives its next task or travels to charge.
This creates a more synchronized relationship between warehouse inventory and production demand.
7. Finished-Goods Transportation
After assembly or packaging, finished products must be moved to:
- Inspection areas
- Temporary buffers
- Finished-goods warehouses
- Palletizing stations
- Shipping areas
AMRs can automate this movement and record transport events digitally.
This improves visibility and reduces the risk of products being placed in incorrect locations.
8. Battery and New-Energy Manufacturing
Battery manufacturing involves demanding logistics conditions, including:
- High-frequency movement
- Narrow spaces
- Mixed human and vehicle traffic
- High docking accuracy
- Production-equipment interaction
- Clean or controlled environments
The IFR has documented an AMR application in lithium-battery manufacturing that used vision and laser fusion navigation to achieve high-precision docking in electrode-roll handling.
Depending on the process, AMRs may be used for:
- Electrode-roll transport
- Material-rack handling
- Cell transportation
- Pack-assembly supply
- Finished-battery movement
9. Electronics and Semiconductor Production
Electronics factories frequently require:
- Precise material delivery
- High production frequency
- Controlled environments
- Traceable transport
- Low contamination
- Compact equipment
AMRs can move trays, racks and components between warehouses and production equipment.
Special projects may require:
- Cleanroom-compatible materials
- Antistatic design
- Low-particle operation
- High docking accuracy
- Automatic-door integration
- Elevator integration
10. Inspection and Sample Delivery
AMRs can also support quality-control processes.
Examples include:
- Delivering samples to laboratories
- Moving finished products to inspection
- Returning rejected products
- Carrying measuring fixtures
- Transporting test components
This reduces the time employees spend walking between production and quality departments.
How to Choose the Correct AMR Application
Before selecting an AMR, manufacturers should define:
- What material will be transported?
- What is the maximum payload?
- What carrier or pallet is used?
- Where are the pickup and delivery stations?
- How many missions are required per hour?
- Is automatic loading required?
- What docking accuracy is needed?
- Will the robot interact with doors or elevators?
- Is WMS, MES or ERP integration required?
- Are there special environmental conditions?
A successful project begins with the process, not the robot.
Conclusion
The best AMR application is usually a repetitive transport task with clearly defined pickup and delivery points.
Manufacturers can begin with one practical route, measure the results and gradually expand the system.
Standardized AMRs are especially suitable for:
- Line-side material supply
- Rack and trolley transport
- Work-in-process movement
- Warehouse replenishment
- Pallet transportation
- Finished-goods handling
HITREE provides standardized mobile robot solutions designed to improve material flow in factories and warehouses worldwide.