5G Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) Benefits

Challenge and opportunity.

The labor shortage is forcing businesses to think differently about how to get vital work done. In the middle of 2023, even if every unemployed person in the U.S. filled a job, there would still be 4.1 million openings.¹ One headline described it as, “the forever labor shortage.”²

Who bears the brunt of this situation? The work often falls on existing staff, who are asked to do more. And when too many of those tasks are repetitive in nature—like moving inventory, pushing carts, or delivering supplies—it pulls employees away from higher-value contributions they could otherwise make.

A shortage of 450,000 bedside nurses expected in the U.S. by 2025.4

The COVID pandemic exposed the scope of the talent management challenge across job categories. Nowhere was that more obvious than in healthcare, which is facing an acute shortage of nurses.³ It doesn’t help that some overworked nurses are being asked to perform manual tasks that have little to do with caregiving, such as providing bedding or shuttling medications to patients’ rooms.

Employers must find new ways to lighten the load on nurses and other workers. For a growing number of business leaders, automated mobile robots, or AMRs, are part of the solution. When connected via 5G wireless, AMRs can transport supplies within buildings, assemble products in factories, and notify managers when their assignments are completed. AMRs automate routine tasks so your employees can do more when and where it matters most.

“Business leaders can task AMRs with repetitive assignments or work in areas that would be unsafe for humans. It’s a great solution for leaders facing a skills or labor shortage.”
Dave Chan, Director – Product Management, T-Mobile for Business

Autonomous mobile robots.

Let AMRs tackle repetitive tasks.

AMRs move freely without guides or limitations. By pairing sensor technologies with edge computing and 5G networks, you can deploy AMRs in more places.

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Business benefits.

AMRs can help alleviate some of the pressure on your employees, while contributing to workplace efficiency. With 5G’s speed, bandwidth, and low latency, robots can process information almost instantaneously.

Operational efficiency and flexibility.

AMRs can complete chores with no interruptions, which increases productivity. AMRs connected via a private 5G network get better coverage than some Wi-Fi environments, providing greater continuity.

Safety and security.

AMRs can do tasks that are dangerous, like working near heavy machinery or hazardous materials. AMRs connected via 5G with SIM authentication can also offer better data security than with Wi-Fi alone.

Reduced labor costs.

AMRs don’t add to labor-related expenses even if they work around the clock. They can help keep operational costs in check by minimizing the need for heating, cooling, or lighting in some settings.

Key technologies.

With private 5G and on-premises edge computing, AMRs can apply computer vision to detect objects that may be in their path, read hallway markers, and safely navigate where they need to go. 5G’s high performance and low latency make it possible to deliver instructions to AMRs in near-real time for immediate action. Data remains secure within your network, which is of critical importance to companies in regulated industries.

Spatial sensors.

Motion sensors, lidar, and computer vision tech give AMRs autonomous capabilities. Exterior sensors acquire information about the environment, while internal sensors monitor the robot itself.

Fleet management software.

Traffic control, task allocation, and monitoring an AMR are handled by fleet management software. The software runs on edge servers located on premises and communicates via a private 5G network.

Maximizing autonomy and efficiency across industries.

AMRs offer flexibility and efficiency to many types of businesses. From repetitive, low-skilled tasks to processes in dangerous or unpredictable environments, 5G-enabled robots can get the job done. While AMRs are generally designed for smaller and lighter workloads, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) support heavier loads, ranging from a few hundred kilograms to several tons. Unlike AMRs, AGVs are controlled manually or navigate along a marked route. Both can be used in coordination to automate tasks, large and small.

Manufacturing.

Autonomous tools can lessen the impact of the looming labor gap. AMRs handle basic tasks like fetching objects. AGVs transport heavy-duty materials on fixed pathways.

Construction.

AGVs lower mortality risks by keeping humans out of harm’s way when carrying heavy materials around a worksite. Meanwhile, AMRs collect site data for better planning and safety.

Transportation & logistics.

AMRs boost productivity by automating trips between inventory and shipping.⁵ 5G-enabled robots move pallets across a warehouse autonomously, without the need for guides.

A group of robotic arms stock a warehouse aisle.

Retail.

AMRs can complete tasks often delegated to new associates, like unloading carts, fulfilling orders, or tracking inventory. That allows your workers to focus on customer service.

A woman gazes into a store window, smartphone in hand.

Understand the impact.

The global market for AMRs is forecast to grow more than sevenfold—to $220 billion in 2030.⁶ This boom is being fueled by the rise in computing power and the decline in the cost of sensors over time.

Almost every industry can find value in AMRs. They can increase efficiency, improve safety, reduce costs, and, in short, offer relief to labor shortages that threaten a business’s ability to grow and thrive. Mobile robots do all of that by performing tasks autonomously, accurately, and continuously.

During a trial application of 5G at an engineering company, AMRs were used to inspect components on a conveyor belt. The robots relied on industrial high-resolution cameras, coupled with AI, to inspect each component. The business manager overseeing the project, the Industry 4.0 Coordinator, credited the 5G-enabled robots with unfailing performance: The automated system “doesn’t get tired,” the coordinator said, “so we have actually a 100% correct rate” in the components reviewed during the trial.⁷

695 hospital deliveries per month with a single robot across a hospital system.8

In another example of 5G-enabled automation, a CTO in manufacturing implemented automated loading machines to mix materials like asphalt and concrete. In an interview with a researcher on our behalf, the executive recounted how the robotic loading machines used an onboard control system with mounted cameras for collision avoidance and to assure the right mix of materials. Because the plant runs 24 hours, the company operates three 8-hour shifts, with two workers per shift. The automated processes have driven down costs dramatically. “For a year, if you run the plant full steam,” the CTO said, “you can actually save on the operating cost of just the loading by around 70%.”

Cost calculations like that require data to demonstrate the business value of such investments. AMRs contribute to business-case analysis by generating valuable data on the processes they’re helping to streamline and optimize.

There are a growing number of proof points that using robots in business can drive cost savings, operational excellence, and competitiveness when used for labor-intensive processes. In the face of a worker shortage, 5G-enabled AMRs may be the help that organizations need.

“We deployed three automated robots, and they worked wonderfully. We were able to run days and nights with no breakdown in the throughput, which was our primary KPI.”
CTO, Manufacturing

AUTOMATING
TASKS SO
WORKERS
CAN EXCEL.