Autonomous mobile robots
CTU
A tote handling robot that stores and retrieves several totes per trip.
A CTU robot is a tote handling robot that picks totes from shelving, carries several of them per trip and delivers them to workstations, conveyors or other shelving. It replaces walking and searching in small-parts stores and warehouses, and makes better use of shelving height than manual picking. CTUs run on the same dispatch system as your lifting AMRs and forklifts, so totes and pallets can be handled in one flow.
Why it works
- 01
Several totes per trip
Each robot retrieves and carries multiple totes at once, cutting the number of trips per order.
- 02
Uses your shelving height
CTUs reach shelf levels that are slow or unsafe to pick by hand, so the same floor area holds more stock.
- 03
Goods to person
Totes come to the operator or to the line, instead of people walking the aisles to find parts.
How a CTU robot works
Your WMS sends a list of totes to retrieve. The dispatch system assigns them to CTUs, which drive to the shelving, pick the totes into their onboard slots and deliver them to a workstation or conveyor. Returned totes go back to storage on the next trip, so the robot rarely travels empty.
Because the robots work from a digital map, shelving can be added or rearranged and the routes updated without changes to the floor.
Typical tasks
CTUs fit operations with many small parts and frequent tote movements, such as electronics component stores and e-commerce or spare-parts warehouses.
- Goods-to-person order picking
- Kitting and line-side supply of components
- Storage and retrieval of reels, trays and small parts in totes
- Returns and replenishment
Integration and safety
The dispatch system receives tote requests from your WMS, ERP or MES through standard interfaces and reports each completed move back. It also connects conveyors, lifts and automatic doors, so totes can travel between floors and areas without manual handover.
CTUs slow down and stop for people and obstacles, and busy areas such as picking stations can have their own speed limits. A live map and alarms show the status of every robot.
Every robot type runs on the same dispatch system, connected to your MES, WMS, PLCs, lifts and doors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CTU robot used for?
A CTU stores and retrieves totes from shelving and carries several per trip to workstations or conveyors. It is used for goods-to-person picking, kitting and small-parts storage.
Do we need new shelving for CTU robots?
Sometimes existing shelving can be used, sometimes new shelving gives better density. We assess your racks and tote sizes and recommend the option in the proposal.
Can CTUs work with lifting AMRs and forklifts in the same site?
Yes. All robot types run on one dispatch system, which manages traffic and tasks across the whole fleet.
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
- 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
- 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
- Autonomous forkliftDriverless pallet handling for inbound, line feeding and finished goods.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
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