Challenges in the implementation of autonomous robots in the process of feeding materials on the production line as part of Logistics 4.0

Abstract

. Background: Along with the development of Industry 4.0, the concept of Logistics 4.0 is also developing in parallel. Some researchers emphasize that the fourth industrial revolution in the area of logistics concerns in particular warehouse services. New technologies related to automatic data identification and autonomous vehicles are increasingly appearing in warehouse processes. In particular, the implementation of autonomous vehicles in processes carried out so far by people generates significant challenges related to the proper preparation of the entire system, but also its coordination with processes carried out in the enterprise. The aim of the article is to present the results of the analysis of disturbances occurring in the first stage of the implementation of autonomous vehicles in the process of feeding material production lines in a surveyed company from the automotive industry. Methods: The article presents the implementation assumptions for the use of autonomous robots in the process of materials feeding. The scope of the required safety analyzes was presented as well as the time measurements carried out regarding the implementation of the process of servicing power supplies for assembly lines. The research used direct observations in the assessed enterprise and unstructured interviews with persons responsible for the implementation. Results: The results show the deviations from the adopted assumptions, both in the area of vehicle safety and the deviations in the time of material supply operations. It is worth noting that both positive and negative deviations from the adopted standard were recorded in the measurements. Based on the analyzes of the causes and effects of the deviations, guidelines have been developed for the changes to the functioning of autonomous vehicles. Conclusions: The results of the presented research allowed to identify potential adverse events that may occur in the process of implementing autonomous solutions in logistics service processes. The basic rules for the implementation of autonomous solutions in logistic operations, which are carried out in anthropotechnical systems, were also indicated.