The Material Handling Blog

Robots have been around for a while now and some may now consider them a commodity. They take inputs – product dimensions, pick and place locations – and produce outputs – finished pallets, unloaded or loaded machines. The inputs and outputs are controlled and consistent. What happens when the inputs and outputs can’t be controlled? Are you out of luck? Not anymore! Bastian Solutions has implemented robotic systems that allow robots to see, reason, and act to unknown inputs and produce desired outputs.

At Bastian Solutions' R&D branch, we have seen many intern candidates and interested students apply, all hoping to get into robotics. Here are three characteristics that we look for. They may not be what you think!

In the very near future, robotic picking will become mainstream, facilitating a 24/7 picking and order fulfillment environment. Improvements in a few existing technologies have helped pave the way.

Until recently, handling delicate products required a human touch. The flexibility and dexterity of Soft Robotics' new modular collaborative robot gripper kit changes that.

Do you want to automate a process in your facility without breaking the bank? Here are 5 advantages of cobots. Read: 5 Advantages of a Cobot from Universal Robots

With the perseverance of its manufacturing industry and the help of innovations like industrial automation, Detroit has made an impressive comeback. Read: How Industrial Automation Helped Detroit Recover

From picking, packing, palletizing and beyond, here are some distribution center applications that can benefit from using cobots, or collaborative robots. Read: 5 Cobot Applications for Distribution Centers

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the news a lot lately.  Self-driving cars, smart personal assistants (e.g. Amazon’s Alexa), and recommendation engines that serve up your favorite movies and books, are all exciting AI applications that you have probably heard about.  There are, though, many more, including in material handling automation. Read: AI - Hype or Game Changer

As Thanksgiving approaches, I would like to admit that I am very thankful for same day shipping. Yes, of course this comes behind my family, friends, home, etc. However as part of a two-working-parent household with two young boys, this convenience is a lifesaver. Continue Reading: I am Thankful for….Same Day Shipping!

Choosing the proper integrator to partner with to accomplish an organization’s strategic goals for robotic automation is not a trivial task. Companies have several avenues that they explore when it comes to gathering information, soliciting bids, evaluating, and selecting an integration partner. Read: How to Choose a Robotics Integrator

Even though I have been in the industry for nearly six years, I still see myself as a fresh out of college engineer. During those six years, I have had many memorable learning experiences where I have translated classroom knowledge into real-world applications. Without a doubt, my biggest and most important learning experiences have come when I or my team made a mistake. Read: It is Not Bad to Be Wrong: Learning is a Journey