A mobile robot can automate transportation between two locations, but material still has to be transferred between the storage rack, the robot, and the receiving workstation. In this project, we integrated a six-axis robotic arm with an autonomous mobile platform so that the same system could perform both transportation and physical material handling.
The mobile manipulator retrieves individual material modules from a multi-level storage rack, transfers them to its onboard carrying positions, moves away from the storage area, and then unloads the modules onto dedicated positions at a receiving workstation.
The project demonstrates a complete material flow from rack storage to workstation delivery without requiring an operator to load and unload the mobile robot at either end.
Picking Materials Directly from a Multi-Level Rack
The first part of the task takes place beside a multi-level storage rack containing multiple black material modules arranged in defined positions.
The mobile manipulator stops beside the rack and uses its robotic arm to reach the selected storage location.
Because materials are stored at different horizontal positions and shelf levels, the arm must adjust its reach and orientation for each pickup. The end effector approaches the required module, grips it, and removes it from the rack.
The robot then retracts the material from the shelf while maintaining clearance from adjacent stored modules and the rack structure.
This creates a direct interface between the mobile robot and the storage system:
Rack location -> robotic pickup -> mobile manipulator
No separate operator is required to remove the material from the rack and manually place it onto the vehicle.
Handling Multiple Storage Positions with One Robotic Arm
The rack contains several material positions distributed across the storage area rather than a single pickup point.
During the video, the robotic arm repeatedly changes position to access different modules. Its multi-axis movement allows the end effector to approach the material from the required angle while the mobile base remains positioned beside the rack.
This is particularly useful when a storage system contains repeated locations that are within the working envelope of the robotic arm.
Instead of requiring an individual mechanical transfer mechanism at every shelf position, one arm can service several locations from the same mobile platform.
The robot therefore combines the larger travel range of the AMR with the local handling range of the robotic arm.
Onboard Buffering Before Transport
The mobile platform incorporates dedicated storage positions around the robotic arm.
After a material module is removed from the rack, it can be transferred to an onboard position rather than requiring the robot to immediately travel to the destination after every individual pickup.
This creates a small mobile buffer directly on the robot.
The handling sequence becomes:
retrieve module from rack -> place module onboard -> retrieve additional material -> complete rack-side picking -> begin transport
By carrying several items during one mission, the mobile manipulator can separate the rack-picking process from the subsequent delivery operation.
The onboard buffer also provides known pickup positions for the robotic arm when the robot reaches the destination.
Moving the Picked Materials to the Receiving Area
After the rack-side handling operation is completed, the mobile manipulator leaves the storage position and travels toward the receiving workstation.
The robotic arm remains mounted on the same mobile base as the transported materials, so the entire picking system moves together.
This avoids the need for a separate cart, conveyor, or fixed transfer mechanism between storage and the receiving area.
The mobile platform provides the long-distance movement between locations, while the robotic arm handles the physical transfer at the beginning and end of the route.
The material flow can therefore be organized as:
storage rack -> robotic picking -> onboard buffer -> autonomous transport -> receiving workstation
Automatic Placement at the Workstation
At the destination, the robot stops beside a dedicated receiving table containing several defined material positions.
The robotic arm retrieves a module from the onboard buffer and extends toward the workstation.
The end effector carries the module above the receiving fixture, adjusts its position, and lowers it into the designated location. After placement, the gripper releases the material and the arm retracts.
The video shows this operation being repeated for multiple modules.
The delivery sequence therefore becomes:
retrieve from onboard position -> move to workstation -> align with receiving position -> lower module -> release -> return for next item
The workstation uses defined locations to provide a repeatable interface for robotic placement.
From Rack Picking to Point-of-Use Replenishment
The project combines several operations that are often handled separately in a conventional material-handling process.
At the storage side, the robot identifies and retrieves materials from the rack. During transportation, the mobile platform carries the selected modules in its onboard buffer. At the destination, the same robotic arm unloads the materials into defined workstation positions.
The complete operating sequence shown in the project can be summarized as:
navigate to storage rack -> access selected shelf position -> pick material module -> place material onboard -> repeat picking -> travel to receiving station -> retrieve material from onboard buffer -> place at workstation -> repeat unloading
This architecture allows one mobile system to perform both intralogistics transportation and point-of-use material transfer.
For manufacturing environments with distributed storage racks and production workstations, the same concept can be used for line-side replenishment, component delivery, fixture circulation, or other rack-to-station material flows.