Integrated logistics company ArcBest has unveiled its new autonomous material handling technology which combines autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and remote teleoperation capabilities.

ArcBest says its Vaux Smart Autonomy builds on its suite of hardware and software, the Vaux Freight Movement System, which has transformed how freight is loaded, unloaded and transferred using a mobile platform.

“Vaux Smart Autonomy will revolutionise material handling for customers, helping to optimise and unlock greater efficiencies in their warehouses, distribution centres and the overall supply chain,” says ArcBest chairman, president and chief executive officer Judy R. McReynolds. 

With the Vaux Freight Movement System, a mobile platform can be pulled off a trailer at the dock in one movement, allowing an entire trailer to be completely unloaded in under five minutes. 

Once the Vaux mobile platform is off the trailer and on the dock, Vaux Smart Autonomy forklifts and reach trucks can access all four sides to complete the material handling processes autonomously.

The AMR forklift and reach truck fleet can be operated in autonomous, remote or manual modes.

They are able to safely navigate a warehouse, detect and identify pallets and racking systems, and perform tasks such as loading and unloading, moving goods and stacking pallets. 

Additional capabilities include advanced dimensioning and 2D barcoding functionality. 

A teleoperator centre complements the autonomous vehicles by remotely monitoring many autonomous robots simultaneously and stepping in to operate remotely when the autonomy needs human assistance.