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Are robots taking over at the nation’s loading and receiving docks? Not exactly, but as our November 2012 story on Frito-Lay’s robotic truck loader shows, they are making inroads into what were once human-only domains.

The recent debut of a counterpart device for the receiving dock suggests the trend may be accelerating. Wynright Corp., the material handling engineering firm that developed Frito-Lay’s robotic loader, has introduced the Robotic Truck Unloader (RTU)—a machine that can unload floor-loaded products from truck trailers or ocean freight containers. Its “perception” technology—similar to that used in the Wii video game, according to Wynright CEO Kevin Ambrose—allows it to navigate its way into a trailer or container and sense the sidewalls, floor, and stacks of cartons. The vision system maps the shape and dimensions of the next carton or object to be unloaded and guides the robot accordingly. This allows the RTU to pick products of mixed sizes and to pick in regular or irregular patterns.

In action, the RTU is reminiscent of a long-necked dinosaur. It almost seems alive, stopping briefly to survey the stacks and appearing to think carefully before choosing a carton, which it then picks up and gently places on a telescoping motor-driven roller conveyor for transfer into the DC.

New tools for integrating vision technology with laser guidance and robotic mechanisms have made such complex yet reliable machines possible, Ambrose explained in an interview. He foresees growing demand for robots in warehousing, in part because today’s retail and e-commerce fulfillment operations require high-speed throughput, which creates an environment that’s tough on workers. Repetitive tasks that call for a lot of lifting, twisting and turning, or working in the heat or cold “are nothing for a robot,” he said.

That doesn’t mean warehouse robotics will entirely replace people,
Ambrose noted. Robotic systems require tenders to monitor multiple
machines and correct any problems, such as a fallen carton. “It’s a more
technical support role,” he said. “Because of the controls and software
involved, you need somebody who understands how to restart, repro-
gram, and calibrate machines.”
Several large retailers and parcel express carriers reportedly are investi-
gating the technology. Ambrose declined to specify the average price of an
RTU but said the cost could be justified with one robot covering two dock
doors in a multiple-shift operation. “This is an ROI-driven solution,” he
said. “It eliminates labor dollars and replaces them with capital dollars.”
To see a short video of the Robotic Truck Unloader at work, go to
http://robotics.wynright.com/videos.php. ;

This is a job for … a robot?

Traditionally, transportation brokers—middlemen who match available loads with empty trucks, charging a fee to the shipper—have been outsiders, either independent businesses or divisions of asset-based companies. A growing number of shippers, however, are setting up their own in-house truck brokerage operations, says Charlie Saffro of CS Recruiting LLC, a Chicago-based recruiting firm that specializes in third-party logistics and brokerage positions.

Saffro says she’s been fielding a lot of inquiries lately from shippers who want to get into brokerage themselves. Done right, it can be a lucrative proposition, especially for shippers with high-value freight and backhauls to fill. She cites the case of one produce distributor that started an in-house truck brokerage in late 2012 and after just a few months, had earned $6 million in new revenue.

Saffro cautions that in order to succeed at this endeavor, the right talent must be in place. What typically happens is that a shipper hires an experienced manager who uses his or her knowledge and contacts to handle brokerage for the shipper’s own freight, she says. Later on, the manager can develop a for-profit operation serving existing customers and eventually, new customers.

Sound interesting? It’s important to note that there are upfront costs and that all transportation brokers are subject to federal regulations regarding licensing, bonding, contracts, and related matters. An excellent source of information is the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA), which offers training and support services for new brokers. Learn more at www.tianet.org. ;