OMRON, a global leader in automation, has launched the HD-1500, an advanced autonomous mobile robot specifically designed to transport heavy payloads of up to 1,500kg.

The HD-1500 is the strongest and newest addition to the company’s series of mobile robots.

It is ideal for today’s smart factories, where autonomous material handling solutions need to manage more demanding industrial automation tasks.

It also provides a solution for businesses currently facing severe labour shortages, while assisting them to comply with new social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 1500kg payload capacity of the HD-1500 enables transportation of large automotive components such as car chassis and voluminous pallet size payloads. These can be moved at a rate of 1.8m per second.

These larger items would have traditionally been moved with manual labour using forklifts.

With the release of the HD-1500, OMRON’s mobile robots, including the LD-60/90 and LD-250, form a seamless line-up of models that can transport a wide variety of items – to increase total efficiency of material handling inside the factory.

Advanced performance and safety

With heavier payloads, built-in controller, improved sensors, route planning and object avoidance, the OMRON HD-1500 autonomous mobile robot offers advanced performance and safety.

OMRON’s industry-first Fleet Manager can control up to 100 mobile robots with different sizes, configurations and payload capacities under one system to automate job requests, traffic control between robots and battery management.

The robots can automatically calculate the most efficient route, while collaborating safely with people and navigating around obstacles, without the use of magnetic floor tapes or other guides.

The HD-1500 battery reduces overall downtime by charging in just 39 minutes. It can then handle a full shift of 12.5 hours (unloaded) or 9 hours with a full load. A 20% charged battery can be charged to 80% in just 24 minutes.

Safety wise, the HD-1500 utilises three laser scanners, giving it a 360º view to detect obstacles, including humans. For emergencies that require immediate stopping, the HD-1500 provides five safety rated e-stop, switches, two on each side panel and another on a 7” operator panel, acting as a HMI.

To indicate movement, there are light disks on each side and light strips on the front and back. Two speakers provide audio announcements (in English) and two piezo buzzers are provided as audible beacons.

The use of HAPS (High Accuracy Positioning Sensors) allows the HD-1500 to position itself with accuracy. It can repeatedly reposition itself with a 50mm tolerance.

 “Onsite logistics, the movement of products and material within the factory and warehouse, is becoming a real bottleneck for many companies due to the frequency and tediousness of the job, compounded by the need to meet social distancing protocols,” says Tom Mathias, President and CEO of OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies, Inc.

“Fast-paced manufacturing environments require speed and flexibility. OMRON’s HD-1500 mobile robot can help companies solve this issue by working 24 hours a day tirelessly, punctually and safely side-by-side with people.”

Highlights include:

• Higher payload and strong structure

The HD-1500 can move pallet size payloads in manufacturing facilities and reduce the need for a forklift. Built with sturdy metal skins, the HD-1500 is robust and able to withstand heavy unintended external impacts.

• Faster ROI

The HD-1500 offers a solution to automate complex and dangerous tasks. Organisations can reduce the use of forklifts and safely transport large pallets containing finished goods, voluminous materials in the food and commodities industry and automotive frames. Workers can now focus their attention on more vital tasks, allowing customers to load more, make fewer trips with heavier batches and increase ROI. With the HD-1500, customers can do more with less equipment.

• Customisable fleet

Mobile fleets can become more diverse but still be controlled through the same system. OMRON’s Fleet Manager allows a diverse mobile fleet of up to 100 mobile robots, including the HD-1500, to be controlled within the one central controller, while achieving high performance. Thanks to optimised traffic management, battery management and routing of vehicles, customers can add the HD-1500 to their fleets without worrying about safety, compatibility or performance.

Additional features include:

• Battery charges in 39 minutes to realise greater efficiency and less downtime

• 360° safety scanning lasers are used for simultaneous localisation and safety functionality

• Superior navigation using adaptive safety zones from LiDAR technology.

• Improved CAPS technology (Cell Alignment Positioning System) allows for better accuracy and repeatability for docking.

• With the Fleet Simulator feature, it’s possible to simulate up to 10 robots in up to three separate fleets.

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