Warehouse robotics is the application of autonomous mobile robots, robotic arms, and coordinated fleets to automate storage, picking, sorting, and transport tasks within fulfilment and distribution centres. Systems integrate navigation, perception, fleet orchestration, and warehouse management software to move goods and people efficiently. It is one of the most commercially mature robotics domains, driven by e-commerce throughput and labour demands.
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- Architectures range from goods-to-person systems (shelf-carrying AMRs delivering to fixed pick stations) to autonomous forklifts and piece-picking arms with vision-guided grasping. Central fleet managers handle traffic control, task allocation, and battery scheduling; key trade-offs balance throughput, floor-space density, safety around human workers, and integration cost with existing WMS infrastructure.