Linde Material Handling expanded its range of warehouse robotic trucks with the driverless Linde K Matic VNA (very narrow aisle) order picker. The truck has 1,5 ton load capacity and is able to autonomously store and retrieve pallets from heights of up to 12 meters. The K Matic can be flexibly integrated into existing intralogistic systems, and the integration of the vehicle into the operational data flow is achieved by means of the Robot Manager, which provides the interface to the warehouse management or enterprise resource planning system.
As supervisor software, Robot Manager receives, processes and transmits data in real-time, thus controlling interaction with other networked machines and devices, also ensuring the transmission of data such as the vehicle status for servicing purposes. Simple and fast changeover from autonomous to manual mode and viceversa allows to use K Matic for manual order picking during the day and then handle replenishment supplies with entire pallets in autonomous mode in the high-rack warehouse during the night.
As all the Linde-Matic series, K Matic is also based on infrastructure-free geoguidance technology, meaning that if the Robot Manager instructs the truck to change aisles, existing structures such as walls, pillars or racks are sufficient for it to navigate safely and reliably. The technology make the installation of Linde robotics trucks easier, reducing efforts required to customers. An installed safety management ensures that the autonomous order picking truck can perform its tasks safely and reliably, while sensors and 3-D cameras, visual and audible warning devices and emergency stops help prevent damages to racks, load carriers and goods.
All of Linde’s robotic trucks are based on corresponding standard series models, so that the K Matic also comes with all equipment features and options available for other models of the modular series, thereby allowing for perfect adjustment according to customer needs, after an accurate in-situ analysis of the material flow processes by Linde aimed to develop the best possible robotic solution with the user.