Management of robots with Plus One Robotics

Based in San Antonio, Texas, Plus One Robotics makes vision software for robots in warehouses and distribution centers. They give robots the eye-hand coordination to pick and put down objects using 3D and AI-powered perception. One of their innovations is designed to solve the problems of a mixed pallet. They call this the PickOne Mixed Depalletizing Solution.

What is a mixed pallet?

In a warehouse and transportation industry, goods are usually placed on wooden pallets to facilitate stable transportation. A pallet filled with items of similar size and shape, and with a regular or familiar pallet pattern is fairly easy for a robotic arm to handle. But as the range of goods being transported expands, these relatively simple pallets are becoming less and less common.

As e-commerce grows, customers are demanding logistics centers to handle daily and constantly changing shipments. As a result, pallets are filled with a variety of items, resulting in mixed pallets. The items stacked on a mixed pallet may be different sizes or packed in different types of packaging, from boxes and cans to plastic-wrapped soft-sided items. Because mixed pallets are often stacked in a non-uniform manner, removing items from a mixed pallet, called depalletizing, can be challenging.

Challenges of a mixed pallet

For a human being, understanding a mixed pallet is pretty easy. With an assortment of items, you know pretty quickly how to pick up each item and where to put it. But while it may be a simple task, it is not an easy job. The repetitive and physical nature of the work is hard on the human body and mind. It is work with low job satisfaction and high turnover.

Solution for mixed depalletization

Plus One Robotics has developed a robotic solution for depalletizing mixed pallets, the PickOne Depalletizing Solution. Based on AI data, the PickOne software instructs a robot to pick each item and verify proper placement. PickOne is actually the brain behind the robot's hand-eye coordination to perform a range of picking and placing tasks in e-commerce fulfillment and warehouse distribution centers.

Human-in-the-loop remote robot supervisor

Although PickOne makes these robots smart, they are still not as smart as humans. For example, a robot can be confused by new packaging, reflective plastic wrappers, broken packaging and other exceptions. Plus One has developed software that allows humans to manage the robot and deal with this confusion.

In fact, with Plus One's software, called Yonder, people can manage a team of robots from just about anywhere. Yonder handles exceptions. So if a robot isn't sure what to do with a package, the human manager is alerted. The human can give instructions remotely so the robot can get back to work. The AI is constantly learning, so the robot knows what to do if the same exception occurs again.

Why OnLogic

In their search for a platform for their solutions, Plus One had challenging requirements. The computer had to be very reliable and powerful to support a powerful GPU and enough USB data ports for up to twenty Intel RealSense cameras. In addition, some customers require the hardware platform to be UL certified.

"The Karbon 804 from OnLogic met all of our requirements. The compact but powerful solution supports our current needs with room for expansion. In addition, locating OnLogic production facilities in the U.S. and the Netherlands saves us time and money when it comes to solution delivery and support for our customers around the world." - SHAWN EDWARDS, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AT PLUS ONE ROBOTICS

Good luck

PickOne with Yonder shows a high success rate. For example, one customer implementation started with an out-of-the-box picking accuracy of about 85%. After they started using PickOne and Yonder to collect data on the new and anomalous items, the accuracy rate increased to 94% in three weeks and to 98% in six weeks.

What's next for Plus One?

Plus One recently opened their European headquarters in the Netherlands, which also happens to be OnLogic's EU headquarters. This proximity will save costs and time, as OnLogic systems can be built directly from their our Dutch facility and shipped to the newly opened office in the Netherlands to support their production.