Fetch Robotics offers a range of autonomous mobile robots

Honeywell has announced a strategic collaboration with Fetch Robotics to provide distribution centres with autonomous mobile robots to help them more effectively fulfil growing volumes of e-commerce orders.

The initiative enables Honeywell Intelligrated's customers to increase productivity and boost labour efficiency by deploying Fetch Robotics' autonomous mobile robotics, which operate safely alongside people to transport items through distribution centres without human guidance or fixed paths.

By adding this offering to its smart robotics portfolio, Honeywell Intelligrated says it can provide customers with a range of flexible automation solutions that can be tailored to address current and future operational needs.

Honeywell Intelligrated previously announced its collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University to develop next-generation artificial intelligence and robotics technologies for distribution centres. The Fetch Robotics collaboration adds mobility capability to the portfolio of robotics solutions Honeywell is bringing to market.

"As staffing challenges and the continued growth of online shopping are pressuring supply chains, robotics can be an effective solution to help make large, integrated distribution centres more efficient," says Pieter Krynauw, president of Honeywell Intelligrated. "With this arrangement, we can provide our customers with a complete suite of fixed and mobile robotics solutions, backed by the expert systems integration, solutions development and reliable, 24/7 technical support they expect from us."

Fetch Robotics offers a range of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that use a combination of LiDAR and 3D cameras - similar to self-driving car technology - to navigate unpredictable warehouse environments safely and accurately. Fetch Robotics' solutions are also able to deploy and redeploy in just a single day without integration requirements or changes to infrastructure.

"We are committed to helping customers achieve their productivity goals by providing on-demand automation that enables a wide range of flexible and safe AMRs to be rapidly deployed," says Melonee Wise, CEO, Fetch Robotics. "We fully expect our relationship with Honeywell Intelligrated to help accelerate the adoption of our cloud robotics solution within the logistics and manufacturing verticals."