ArcBest Rolls Out Autonomous Forklifts

In an innovative leap forward for warehouse and supply chain management, ArcBest has introduced its latest technological advancement: Vaux Smart Autonomy™. The system integrates autonomous mobile robot (AMR) forklifts and reach trucks with sophisticated software and remote operation capabilities.

A Peek Into the Tech:

• Vaux Smart Autonomy™: This system is an extension of the Vaux Freight Movement System, revolutionizing traditional warehouse operations by enabling trailers to be unloaded in seconds. It combines intelligent software with tele-operations capabilities, allowing for remote management.

• Innovative Unloading Process: Using a removable platform on the trailer's floor, the system allows for the simultaneous unloading of freight by multiple forklifts, bypassing the conventional queue for unloading.

Flexibility and Efficiency:

The Vaux system showcases its flexibility by allowing operators to control the forklifts and reach trucks either on-site manually, remotely, or through autonomous operations. Feedback from early adopters paints a picture of a technology that's as easy to integrate into existing operations as it is beneficial, making it a hit among retailers and manufacturers, including those in the automotive industry.

Tech Specs:

• The Vaux 5K Counterbalance Forklift: It can carry up to 5,000 pounds, zoom around at 7.4 mph, and reach up to 23 feet high—all while needing just a bit more than a limbo stick's worth of aisle space (12.5 feet).

• The Space-Saving Narrow Aisle Reach Truck: Perfect for those tighter spots, with a lifting capacity of up to 4,500 pounds, a top speed of 7.5 mph, and a towering reach of up to 40 feet, all in a cozy 9.5 feet of aisle space.

Source: Supply Chain Dive | ArcBest