Autonomous mobile robots
Mobile manipulator
A mobile base with a collaborative robot arm for tending, loading and picking.
A mobile manipulator puts a collaborative robot arm on an autonomous mobile base. Instead of fixing one arm to one machine, the robot drives between stations and does the hands-on work at each: loading and unloading machines, transferring parts between trays and fixtures, or picking items for the next process. It runs on the same dispatch system as the rest of your fleet, so transport and handling tasks are planned together.
Why it works
- 01
One arm, many stations
The robot serves several machines or workstations in turn, which suits processes that do not justify a fixed arm per station.
- 02
Collaborative arm
A collaborative robot arm is designed for work near people; safety zones and speeds are set during the risk assessment.
- 03
Transport and handling in one
The robot carries parts and loads or unloads them, removing a manual step between delivery and the machine.
How a mobile manipulator works
A machine signals that it needs parts or that a batch is finished. The dispatch system sends the mobile manipulator, which drives to the station, aligns itself and uses the arm to load or unload. It then carries the parts to the next process or back to storage.
Because the arm is mobile, the main engineering work is at the stations: part presentation, gripper design and the handshake with each machine. We define these during the site survey and prove them in trials before go-live.
Typical tasks
Mobile manipulators are used where parts need to be handled, not only moved, for example in PCB, semiconductor-related, electronics and machining processes.
- Machine tending: loading and unloading test, inspection or machining equipment
- Transferring magazines, trays or parts between process stations
- Picking items from totes or shelves for the next process
- Moving samples between instruments in labs
Every robot type runs on the same dispatch system, connected to your MES, WMS, PLCs, lifts and doors.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mobile manipulator?
It is an autonomous mobile robot with a robot arm mounted on top, so it can both travel between stations and handle parts at each one.
When does a mobile manipulator make more sense than a fixed robot arm?
When one arm can serve several machines in turn, or when stations change often. If a single machine needs constant handling, a fixed arm may be the better choice, and we will say so.
Is it safe to work next to a mobile manipulator?
The base slows down and stops for people and obstacles, and the collaborative arm's safety settings are defined for each cell during the risk assessment.
How do you know it will work on our machines?
We review parts, fixtures and machine signals during the survey and run trials at the stations before go-live.
Guides
- 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 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
- CTUA tote handling robot that stores and retrieves several totes per trip.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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