Autonomous mobile robots
Autonomous forklift
Driverless pallet handling for inbound, line feeding and finished goods.
An autonomous forklift, often called an AGV forklift or forklift AMR, picks up and drops pallets without a driver. It takes over the predictable pallet moves that keep manual forklifts busy on every shift: receiving, putting away, feeding lines and moving finished goods to storage or shipping. Pallet stacker and counterbalanced types cover different pallets, loads and floor positions, and all of them run on the same dispatch system as your other robots.
Why it works
- 01
Pallet stacker and counterbalanced types
We match the forklift type to your pallets, loads and pick-up points, including positions where a counterbalanced design is needed.
- 02
Shares space with people
Robots slow down and stop for people and obstacles, and work alongside manual forklifts in the same aisles.
- 03
Driven by your WMS
Moves are triggered by your WMS, ERP, MES or PLC signals, so every pallet movement is recorded in your system.
- 04
Runs across shifts
Charging is scheduled by the dispatch system, so the fleet can keep moving pallets through night and weekend shifts.
How an autonomous forklift works
Your WMS or MES creates a transport task, or an operator calls a pallet from a button at the line. The dispatch system assigns a forklift, which drives to the pick-up point, engages the pallet and carries it to the drop point on the planned route. Each completed move is reported back to your system.
During the site survey we check floor condition, aisle widths, pallet types and Wi-Fi coverage, then simulate traffic so the fleet size matches your peak flow.
Typical tasks
Autonomous forklifts fit repetitive pallet flows with clear pick-up and drop points. They are widely used in tire, battery and warehousing operations.
- Inbound: from receiving docks to staging or storage
- Line feeding: raw material pallets from the store to production
- Finished goods: from end of line to the warehouse or shipping area
- Empty pallet return and stacking
Results from comparable projects
In a typical finished-goods project, autonomous forklifts integrated with the WMS reduced manual forklifts by about 50%, ran three shifts non-stop and paid back in about 14 months. Your proposal includes a payback estimate based on your own flows.
Every robot type runs on the same dispatch system, connected to your MES, WMS, PLCs, lifts and doors.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an AGV forklift and an autonomous forklift?
Traditional AGV forklifts often follow wires, magnets or reflectors. The autonomous forklifts we deploy navigate by laser SLAM on existing features, so routes can change without floor work.
Can autonomous forklifts work alongside manual forklifts?
Yes. They slow down and stop for people, vehicles and obstacles, and busy zones can have their own speed limits.
Which forklift type do we need?
It depends on your pallets, loads and pick-up points. We recommend pallet stacker or counterbalanced types in the proposal after reviewing your layout.
Will it connect to our WMS?
Yes. The dispatch system has standard interfaces for WMS, ERP and MES, and also accepts PLC signals and call buttons.
Related cases
Guides
- AMR vs AGV: how to choose for your plantAMRs and AGVs both move materials without a driver, but they differ in how they navigate, how they cope with change and how their costs build up over time. Here is a balanced comparison and a short checklist to help you decide.Read the guide
- AMR and AGV ROI: how to calculate payback for your plantWhen finance asks for AMR or AGV payback, they want a method they can challenge—not only a homepage ballpark. This guide covers full CAPEX and OPEX, a defensible baseline, net-savings formulas, AGV infrastructure cost, a printable assumption checklist, and when to use the estimator versus a free plant assessment.Read the guide
- Deploying AMRs in a factory: a step-by-step guideA typical AMR implementation goes from a floor plan to a running pilot in 6 to 10 weeks. This guide walks through each step, what to prepare and how to bring your team along.Read the guide
- AMR safety standards explained: ISO 3691-4, R15.08 and what to ask suppliersMobile robots share aisles with people, so safety is designed in from the robot to the site. This guide explains the main standards in plain language, who is responsible for what, and which documents to ask for before you buy.Read the guide
- Autonomous forklifts vs manual forklifts: when to automateAutonomous forklifts take over repetitive pallet moves, while manual forklifts stay best for irregular work. This guide shows which flows to automate first, what to check on site and how to run both fleets together.Read the guide
- How to integrate AMRs with your WMS and MESRobots only save labor when they move the right load at the right time. This guide explains how AMRs receive tasks from a WMS or MES, what the messages contain, which interfaces are common and how to plan and test the integration.Read the guide
- AMR vs AGV for pallet handling: how to choose the right pallet moverWhen you are replacing repetitive pallet-jack or forklift runs, start with the job—load unit, lift height, and handoff—not the AMR vs AGV label. This guide maps pallet moves to three robot families, gives a site checklist you can send to any supplier, and shows when a low-lift pallet truck, an autonomous forklift, or a lifting AMR is the better fit.Read the guide
Autonomous mobile robots
- Lifting AMRA jacking AMR that slides under racks and carts and delivers them where they are needed.Learn more
- CTUA tote handling robot that stores and retrieves several totes per trip.Learn more
- Mobile manipulatorA mobile base with a collaborative robot arm for tending, loading and picking.Learn more
- Embodied AIHumanoid and dual-arm robots for flexible hands-on tasks, introduced through focused pilots.Learn more
Get a plan for your site
Send a floor plan or a phone video. Within 48 hours you get routes, a robot count and a payback estimate, free.