In context
In May 2023, the mobile robotics market was expanding rapidly, driven by labor shortages and the push for more resilient manufacturing. As fleets grew, the ability to integrate vehicles from different vendors became a key concern for automation engineers planning scalable intralogistics.
What was reported
BlueBotics, a specialist in AGV/AMR navigation, announced it would demonstrate at Automate 2023 how its ANT server management software enables the creation of multi-brand vehicle fleets. The company emphasized that as the AGV market matures, businesses increasingly need scalable custom fleets that can incorporate different types and brands of vehicles.
BlueBotics also partnered with Oceaneering Mobile Robotics to host a seminar at the Automate Automation Theater. The session, led by BlueBotics' Matt Wade and Oceaneering's Matt Slack, focused on building the business case for automated vehicle technology, covering key assessments for calculating ROI and featuring two detailed case studies from the automotive sector.
BlueBotics CEO Nicolas Tomatis noted that while the market is thriving due to hiring and retention challenges, determining the value of mobile robotics for a specific operation and making a solid business case can be challenging. The seminar aimed to walk visitors through the process, diving into key ROI factors and providing real-world proof points from US manufacturing.
Why it mattered
The focus on interoperability and business case analysis signaled a maturation of the AGV/AMR industry, moving from single-vendor deployments to mixed fleets and emphasizing financial justification—critical for broader adoption in manufacturing and intralogistics.
“As the AGV market grows and continues to mature, more businesses are realizing the need for scalable custom fleets, which can incorporate different types and even brands of vehicle.”
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2023-05-20 · “BlueBotics to showcase interoperability tech for mobile robots at Automate Show”