Cube Robotic ASRS to Solve Warehouse Space Challenges

ISD – Integrated Systems Design launched its URBX Cube Robotic ASRS, a Cube robotic automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS) that addresses insufficient floor space, unsustainable labor costs, and inadequate throughput capacity to meet accelerating e-commerce, omnichannel, and manufacturers’ delivery demands.

“Traditional AS/RS systems require aisles for cranes or forklifts. This robotic cube system eliminates that waste,” says Bob Jones, senior analyst and consultant at ISD. “You’re storing inventory in what used to be empty air. That matters when you’re paying $15 per square foot for industrial space.”

Key takeaways:

·        Instead of using cranes moving through fixed aisles, autonomous robots traverse a three-dimensional grid structure, climbing vertically and moving horizontally without dedicated travel lanes. Each robot accesses any storage location within the grid, storing totes in a dense Cube arrangement that eliminates the wasted aisle space that traditional AS/RS requires.

·        A Cube robotic system typically achieves 3-4 times the storage capacity of conventional racking in the same footprint. The system reaches heights up to 125 feet, utilizing vertical space most facilities leave empty. Each robot handles up to 100 pounds and completes up to 500 presentations per hour, delivering 1,000 transactions hourly when counting both storage and retrieval operations.

·        The system handles cases and totes with a maximum height reaching 125 feet and a load capacity of up to 100 pounds per tote. Each robot delivers 500 tote or case presentations per hour with 1,000 storage and retrieval cycles hourly. The system accommodates container dimensions from 6-24 inches for maximum operational flexibility.

·        Machine learning algorithms optimize robot tasking and routing, while AI-driven grid technology maximizes throughput. Vision systems detect dimensions, anomalies, and barcodes. The redundant robot fleet ensures continuous operation, and remote monitoring enables predictive maintenance. The modular design allows phased implementation while scalable configuration grows with business requirements.

·        The URBX Cube Robotic ASRS serves multiple industries facing storage and throughput challenges. E-commerce operations benefit from rapid order fulfillment speeds and high inventory visibility with efficient split-case picking for direct-to-consumer fulfillment. Retail distribution centers leverage the technology for omnichannel order processing, fulfilling both store replenishment and individual customer shipments without reconfiguration. Third-party logistics providers utilize the system’s flexibility to serve multiple clients from shared facilities, reconfiguring storage allocations quickly as requirements change.