At its contract logistics site in Pardubice, Czech Republic, DB Schenker has implemented an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) in the warehouse around 120km east of Prague.

The robot named MiR Hook 200 helps detect and transport trolleys to make operations more efficient.

The robot comes from Danish technology company Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) and was deployed in cooperation with Dreamland, a Czech distributor and integrator of autonomous and collaborative robots. While DB Schenker is using autonomous machines in various countries already, this installation is the logistic company’s first robot in the Czech Republic.

“I am extremely pleased we have successfully implemented our first robot in our regular operations in the Czech Republic,” said Tomáš Holomoucký, DB Schenker managing director for the Czech Republic. “Autonomous solutions such as this will enable us to optimise our logistics processes and relieve our staff by taking over simple warehouse tasks. We are proud to be driving innovation and building the warehouse of the future for our customers.”

Dreamland is active in the field of control systems and specialises in the area of industrial automation. With its own repair centre and warehouses, its services are used by customers from 86 countries. Since 2018, it has been a certified distributor of autonomous mobile robots from MiR.

“We are glad that we were able to help DB Schenker with automated transport at the site in Pardubice,” said Frantisek Kysela, CEO of Dreamland. “We are looking forward to other joint projects in the future.”

Equipped with a 3D camera and laser scanner, the MiR Hook 200 can automatically detect trolleys ready for pick up by scanning the related QR codes in predefined zones, or by triggering the next task via any mobile device. The robot’s double battery provides an operating time of 16 hours, after which the AMR is sent to a charging station and fully recharged within three hours.

In operation in Pardubice, the tool automatically picks up trolleys from the storage area loaded with items for shipping and carries them to the packing station, before transporting empties back to the storage area. Given a simple scalability, DB Schenker is considering implementing the AMR at other logistics locations.

With a maximum towing payload of up to 500kg, the robot can avoid both moving and stationary obstacles and adjust its route independently. It did not need major infrastructure changes for its implementation and could be deployed almost immediately with little investment.

The MiR can additionally be converted to meet changing requirements with exchangeable add-on modules. The programming is done through a user interface, has a short installation time and could be programmed by DB Schenker staff, eliminating the need for a dedicated technician.

In Pardubice, DB Schenker employs more than 100 workers and operates a logistics centre with a focus on the industrial and aerospace sectors. The logistics centre has a total area of 70,000m², five halls, a direct motorway link to Prague, and its own rail siding where up to six freight wagons can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously.

Mobile Industrial Robots was officially founded in Odense, Denmark, in 2013. In 2015, the first MiR 100 robots were produced and sold. From here, the company grew quickly and launched the MiR Hook in 2016. In the following years, MiR expanded with MiR 200, MiR 500 and MiR 1000. This year, MiR launched the adaptable and flexible MiR 250.

MiR has seven offices around the world, more than 220 employees and 167 distributors in 48 countries.