Problem:

Forklift sensors can detect the occurrence and intensity of a collision, along with the exact time it happened. However, facility operators are unable to pinpoint the precise location within the facility where the collision occurred. This lack of location-specific data hampers timely inspections and repairs of physical infrastructure and vehicles that might have been damaged.

Solution:

Slamcore Aware equips forklifts with a real-time location system (RTLS). Historical location data can be cross-referenced with the time a crash is detected, to allow facility operators to know exactly where the incident occurred. Health and safety engineers can now be swiftly deployed to inspect the collision site for damage, ensuring prompt maintenance, minimizing operational disruptions and improving safety for all in the facility.

Problem:

Efficient pallet transportation within large facilities is critical for operational success. However, there are instances where forklift operators experience significant delays in loading and unloading pallets. Currently, Operations Managers can identify that a job took longer than expected but lack the insights to understand the root cause of delays. This prevents Operations from effectively implementing solutions and streamlining processes.

Solution:

Slamcore Aware addresses this challenge by tracking the entire journey of the forklift. When our RTLS data is integrated with a WMS/FMS, significant route deviations and unusually long delays can be automatically detected. It empowers Operations Managers with detailed insights to understand the operator’s journey, including the exact location of the operator when assigned the job, the path they took and what obstacles they encountered en route. This analysis could reveal delays caused by long detours due to congestion or difficulties in locating goods upon arrival. By providing these actionable insights, Managers can proactively address and prevent future delays, increasing operational efficiency.

Problem:
Facility operators face the challenge of determining the optimal shelving arrangements, best vehicle for the job and driver routes to maximize throughput. With numerous possible setups, it’s difficult to identify which changes will enhance efficiency. Currently, operators receive only simple metrics like the number of pallets moved before and after changes, without understanding the underlying reasons for these variations. This lack of insight makes it challenging to decide on future adjustments and understand the reality of their decisions.

Solution:

Slamcore Aware enables facility operators to capture the precise positions of all forklifts, allowing them to analyze key performance metrics before and after implementing changes. Operators can assess whether their adjustments have increased average speeds, reduced idle times, or minimized the distance between picks. By identifying which changes have the most significant impact on throughput, operators can continuously refine their strategies. With detailed insights, they can review performance on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis, adapting to the evolving needs of the site and accurately understanding the effects of their modifications.

Problem:
In facilities where autonomous robots operate alongside manual drivers, the lower speed of the robots often causes delays for the faster-moving manual drivers. Robots frequently obstruct the paths of manual drivers, leading to delays and inefficiencies.

Solution:

With Slamcore Aware, the location of manual drivers is continuously tracked. This information allows a central fleet manager to dynamically adjust the paths of autonomous robots, ensuring they do not obstruct manual drivers. Robots can be instructed to stop, pull aside, or alter their routes to minimize interference, thereby improving overall efficiency and reducing driver delays.

Problem:
Forklift operators are sometimes assigned tasks that require them to travel long distances within the facility, wasting time, battery and reducing their overall productivity. This inefficiency arises because quite often the warehouse management system only knows the location of the product to be loaded, not the current position of the operator.

Solution:

Slamcore Aware tracks the real-time locations of all forklifts within the facility. This enables the warehouse management system to assign tasks based on the proximity of the operators to the product that needs to be loaded. By allocating jobs to the nearest available driver, the system reduces travel time, maximizes battery run time, and increases the number of pallets an operator can complete in a day.

Problem:

Forklift operators within a facility must adapt their behavior based on their location, adhering to specific safety requirements such as maximum speed limits, load height whilst in motion, or following directional aisle traffic requirements. These zones can be either fixed or frequently changing. While signage and training provide guidance, mistakes still occur, leading to accidents and near misses.

Solution:

Slamcore Aware continuously tracks the location of each forklift. When this data is connected to a fleet management system customized messages can be sent to operators when they enter specific zones. These messages, which could be delivered as on-screen alerts or audible notifications, can inform operators of a required speed and potential risk within their area. Coupled with the right fleet manager, zones and messages can be changed dynamically, ensuring real-time updates that lead to a reduction of safety incidents.

Problem:

The increase in foot traffic and congestion at busy intersections within the facility creates safety challenges for both pedestrians and forklift operators. Obstructions like infrastructure, shelving, and other barriers can limit the visibility of forklift operators, increasing the risk of accidents and near-misses involving pedestrians.

Solution: 

Slamcore Aware leverages Visual SLAM technology, enabling forklifts to have “eyes” in the form of cameras. The system not only tracks the real-time location of all forklifts but also detects the presence of pedestrians that the forklifts observe. When one forklift detects a person, their position can be instantly shared with all other forklifts in the facility. This enables a pedestrian approaching an intersection to be seen by one forklift (Forklift A), but if another forklift (Forklift B) approaching the same intersection has not seen them, Forklift B can be immediately alerted, preventing potential accidents.