ArcBest introduced Vaux Smart Autonomy, which combines autonomous mobile robot (AMR) forklifts and reach trucks, intelligent software and remote teleoperation capabilities to autonomously handle materials movement within warehouses, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities — all while keeping humans in the loop.
“Our commitment to innovation and ongoing investments in technology continue to drive ArcBest’s profitable growth and our customers’ success,” says Judy R. McReynolds, ArcBest chairman, president and CEO. “As supply chains become increasingly complex, we are introducing transformational innovations to the market that help our customers achieve their financial and operational objectives. Vaux Smart Autonomy will revolutionize material handling for customers, helping to optimize and unlock greater efficiencies in their warehouses, distribution centers and the overall supply chain.”
Key takeaways:
- Vaux Smart Autonomy builds on the launch of ArcBest’s innovative suite of hardware and software, the Vaux Freight Movement System, which transforms how freight is loaded, unloaded and transferred using a mobile platform.
- Vaux Smart Autonomy creates smarter, safer and more efficient material handling processes in warehouses, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities. The technology integrates easily with existing facilities and workflows, making it a practical solution for real-world products in real-world environments and making autonomy possible for businesses across industries.
- The AMR forklift and reach truck fleet is highly versatile, with the ability to operate in autonomous, remote or manual modes. Equipped with advanced software, sensors and cameras, they can safely navigate a warehouse, detect and identify pallets and racking systems, and perform tasks such as loading and unloading, moving goods and stacking pallets. Additional capabilities include advanced dimensioning and 2D barcoding functionality. A teleoperator center complements the autonomous vehicles by remotely monitoring many autonomous robots simultaneously and stepping in to operate remotely when the autonomy needs human assistance.
- With the Vaux Freight Movement System, a mobile platform can be pulled off a trailer at the dock in one movement, allowing an entire trailer to be completely unloaded in under five minutes. Once the Vaux mobile platform is off the trailer and on the dock, Vaux Smart Autonomy forklifts and reach trucks can access all four sides to complete the material handling processes autonomously.
- ArcBest is piloting Vaux with customers across various industries, including manufacturing, automotive and retail.
“ArcBest is investing in and developing groundbreaking technology that advances the global supply chain, and we have a legacy of solving problems in new ways,” says Michael Newcity, chief innovation officer of ArcBest and president of ArcBest Technologies. “Vaux Smart Autonomy is a perfect example of our pragmatic approach to innovation. Today, businesses are facing challenges in their material handling processes, particularly when it comes to productivity, labor availability and safety. They need a practical solution that can be implemented without significant facility or process changes. Vaux Smart Autonomy improves efficiencies, adds labor flexibility and creates a safer working environment, even for companies with complex operations that traditionally have not been able to adopt autonomous technology.”
