Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for Warehouses
Self-navigating mobile robots that transport loads and support picking without fixed paths, sensing their surroundings and rerouting around obstacles in real time.
When it fits
- Repetitive point-to-point transport that pulls operators away from picking, staging, and loading
- Goods-to-person, shelf-to-person, and tote-to-person picking that cuts walk time
- Operations needing flexible, scalable automation that deploys onto the existing floor and grows unit-by-unit for seasonal spikes
When it does not
- Very heavy unit loads or throughput beyond mobile-robot capacity, where fixed conveyor/AS/RS is stronger
- Extremely dense, rigidly fixed flows where a permanent conveyor line is more cost-effective at scale
- Environments without the space or Wi-Fi/mapping conditions robots need to navigate safely
How it pairs with equipment
- Big Joe’s OEM autonomous line (user-directed AMRs) includes pallet trucks, tuggers, counterbalance, and stackers — ask us for current models and availability (including ASC40 autonomous stacker).
- Many units can also be driven like a conventional truck, so teams keep manual control when needed.
- AMRs commonly handle the last hundred feet feeding racking, pick faces, and other automation.
Plan the supporting racking
Path-flexible, so they service most layouts; they pair naturally with selective and carton-flow pick faces, and goods-to-person variants bring shelving or totes to the operator.
Racking & warehouse design →Considerations for your site
For SoCal operations facing tight labor and high turnover, user-directed AMRs take repetitive haul routes off the team without re-engineering the building — a low-disruption entry point to automation that a local dealer can support hands-on.
Related systems
FAQ
What is an autonomous mobile robot (AMR)?
An AMR is a mobile robot that moves loads from point to point on its own, navigating with sensors, cameras, and digital maps rather than fixed guide paths. It detects and avoids obstacles so it can work safely alongside people. In warehouses, AMRs transport pallets, totes, and shelves and support goods-to-person picking.
When should a warehouse consider AMRs?
Consider AMRs when operators spend significant time on repetitive transport, when labor is tight, or when you want automation that deploys quickly and scales unit-by-unit. Because they run on the existing floor and do not require fixed infrastructure, they are a common first step — and can expand for growth or seasonal peaks.
How is deploying AMRs different from installing fixed automation?
AMRs need no permanent guide paths or conveyor; many deploy quickly with Wi-Fi and onboard controls. That makes them faster to stand up and easier to reconfigure than fixed systems like conveyor or AS/RS, which deliver higher density and throughput but require larger design and capital commitments. Ask us about Big Joe autonomous equipment availability and integration scope.
Evaluate robotics for your building
Tell us about your building and material flow. We can review system options with integration partners; performance and return depend on your site.