Nord Modules, a Danish develop of top modules and accessories for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) announced the Quick Mover 180 (QM180), a top module that enables AMRs to perform multiple material handling tasks. With a single top module, the QM180 can handle a number of materials, including gates, half pallets, plastic boxes, carton boxes, carts and cobot solutions.

Without changing top modules, the QM180 gives manufacturers the ability to transport multiple types of containers from A to B to C, pick up goods from gates and deliver to a drop-off point, and re-position goods to another automation area.

The QM180 transports materials to gates installed at production lines, storage systems and conveyors. The gates can include Nord’s CT155 (cobot tower), with an attached cobot arm that picks up the materials and places them where they need to go next.

“While AMRs transform material transport, increase plant efficiency and reduce employee injuries, their benefits are only maximized with top modules and high-quality gates that transfer the materials,” said Kenneth B. Henriksen, chief commercial officer, Nord Modules. “With the QM180, for the first time, customers can use a single top module on their AMR to transport materials to a cobot-armed gate that can autonomously pick up and transport multiple types of materials.”

The QM180 is delivered with integrated software and a tablet for manual control. Using the touchscreen, users can also manually control the robot, if needed, and adapt the system for specialized work processes.

“Speed, space and flexibility are what manufacturers and warehouse operators need, and what the QM180 delivers,” Henriksen added. “With the QM180, these operators can deploy their AMRs quickly, and since one top module moves multiple types of material, more floorspace is saved and material handling is faster as no one needs to stop the AMR to change out the top module for different production layouts. This results in superior ROI.”

The QM180 is currently integrated with Mobile Industrial Robot’s MiR100, MiR200 and MiR250 AMRs.