Robots called Zhu Que or Vermilion Bird equipped with WiFi have tripled the productivity of the world’s largest online retailer. The intelligent warehouse in China is served by 60 state-of-the-art robots. These self-loading machines are responsible for moving goods in the warehouse. They send them to employees who then pack the products for customers around the world.
The 3000 sq meter warehouse is located in Huiyang, Guangdong province in southern China and is owned by T-mall, part of Alibaba, a global online retailer.
How do they work?
The robots receive instructions via Wi-Fi signals. They then find the goods and transfer them to designated collection points so that employees can pick them up. Each of the machines is equipped with laser detection which prevents bumping into each other. When fully charged, a robot can work for 8 hours without interruption. Measuring 90 cm (35 inches), 70 cm (27 inches) and 30 cm (12 inches), Zhu Que can travel up to 1,5 meters (five feet) per second and can carry a load as heavy as 500 kg. Machines save employees from running around the warehouse in search of goods.
Traditionally, an employee sorts 1500 products during a 7,5-hour shift after completing a total of 27 924 steps. With the help of Zhu Que, the same employee sorts 3000 products in the same period of time by performing only 2 563 steps. “Robots must work together and work independently at the same time. They represent the highest level of the Chinese warehouse robots.”, said Cainiao Logistics, Alibaba’s warehouse manager. A logistics expert from Cai Niao, You Yuquan stated that robots can raise and rotate shelves, which makes it easier for people to reach the wanted goods.
China is the world’s largest e-commerce market. According to eMarketer, which accounts for almost half of global online sales, it is expected that in 2017 e-commerce sales will exceed 1,132 trillion USD (0,8 GBP). Logistics companies and online retailers are trying to find ways to improve their work efficiency. STO Express, one of the largest Chinese companies providing parcels, also uses robots in their warehouses. In the STO Express warehouse in Linyi, 300 robots, called Little Orange, sort 20 shipments per hour. Self-loading robots help the company save 70% of its workforce in a 21 sq foot warehouse.