Autonomous mobile robot (AMR) firm Geek+ has launched a multilevel storage and retrieval system that uses the Chinese company’s four-way shuttle robots to boost storage density.

The Sky-Storage & Ground-Pick devotes the ground floor to picking operations entrusted to its flagship P800 robots.

On the upper levels of the warehouse, the X-series four-way shuttles use every centimetre of vertical space for pallet storage and quick and flexible replenishment of the lower level. Below them, picking robots move shelves, pallets and racks containing the most in-demand goods.

Businesses can easily add or remove robots from the system according to business fluctuations, seamlessly expanding storage to fit demand. Existing infrastructure such as conveyor belts, robotic arms or automatic lifts can be integrated into the system for receiving and/or distributing goods.

“When It comes to getting the most out of the warehouse space available, traditional warehousing systems are no longer up to the task,” said Kai Liu, Geek+ vice president. “With Sky-Storage & Ground-Pick, businesses can tackle challenges like labour shortages and increasing costs of warehouse space and deliver the level of service their customers expect.”

The four-way shuttle completes the company’s high density offering, following the launch of the PopPick fast goods-to-person offering at the end of 2021 and the eight-metre tall micro-fulfilment RoboShuttle launched in first half of that year.

“Our R&D team is dedicated to providing the most effective solutions to retailers’ warehouse pain points,” said Kai Liu. “Our approach has been to study our goods-to-person installations worldwide and conduct in-depth discussions with customers to further innovate in the space and develop the products that can fit their more complex needs. Goods-to-person is just the tip of the iceberg for what AMRs can provide to warehouse logistics. Geek+ intends to continue to set the innovation pace in the industry.”

Compared with manual warehouses that use beam racks for storage and shipment, the four-way shuttle racks provide higher and denser storage spaces without compromising worker safety. On the ground level, the P800 provides high-speed picking, and intelligent algorithms combined with quick full-pallet put-away improve the rationality of operations. Efficiency of both tote and piece picking is said to be increased by two to three times.

The width of the four-way shuttle running main-aisle is 1250mm for standard pallets (1200mm long by 1000mm wide), which is 40% of the traditional forklift aisle. Extending racks to the tops of the available space under the warehouse roof, it can take storage capacity to more than five times that of traditional warehouses.

Given it is built on the interaction of two flexible robots, it provides the ability to connect seamlessly different warehouse areas. Artificial intelligence automatically manages and carries out replenishment and storage relocation.

The system can automate operations in retail, third-party logistics, manufacturing, cold chain and pharmaceutical distribution, among other industries.

Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees, with offices in Germany, UK, USA, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.