This Mobile Robot Lifts a Metric Ton Payload

Automate 2019 - The new MiR1000 mobile robot can carry up to 2200 pounds.

At Automate 2019, one of the trends occurring across multiple robot manufacturers was the penetration of the robotics market into small job shops and medium-size, medium-budget operations. The increasing flexibility, redeployability and ease of programming of today’s industrial and robots contributes to this trend.

Interestingly, at a press conference on day one of the show, Mobile Industrial Robots noted that much of their growing customer base is just the opposite. Large, mature automation users such as automotive and aerospace manufacturers are interested in using mobile robots to automate internal logistics and material handling within the four walls of the factory.

With the introduction of the MiR1000 robot, the technology now seems ready to handle almost any material handling task in a manufacturing environment. Transporting pallets, gaylord boxes, crates, or even large aerospace parts, automotive frames, or body-in-white could be potential applications for mobile robots in today’s factory.

Written by

James Anderton

Jim Anderton is the Director of Content for ENGINEERING.com. Mr. Anderton was formerly editor of Canadian Metalworking Magazine and has contributed to a wide range of print and on-line publications, including Design Engineering, Canadian Plastics, Service Station and Garage Management, Autovision, and the National Post. He also brings prior industry experience in quality and part design for a Tier One automotive supplier.