Logistics robot summary, what to learn from overcoming adversity due to "overwhelming labor shortage" Kazumichi Moriyama's "robot" basic course | Business + IT

Logistics robot summary, what to learn from overcoming adversity due to "overwhelming labor shortage"

This time I would like to talk about logistics robots. As I mentioned before, when asked in which fields the robots will be used more in the future, first of all, growth in the logistics field is expected. It is a powerful industry under the hood, and it may be far from people outside the industry, but the way robots are used in the logistics industry can be useful for introducing robots in other industries in the future. many.

Freelance science writer. Born in 1970. Born in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. He graduated from the Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University in 1993. In the same year, he joined NHK as a director. He is engaged in the production of educational programs, live entertainment programs, pop science programs, etc. He retired at the end of August 1997. He will be a freelance writer. He is currently writing coverage for the entire field of science and technology. He is especially in the fields of brain science, robotics and interface design. He specializes in researcher interviews.

Labor saving is a long-awaited issue

Why can we expect growth in the logistics field? First, the background is briefly described. As with all fields, there is the problem of a declining working-age population. As you can see from online shopping, the demand for logistics, which is the "artery of the economy," is steadily increasing. However, it is difficult for humans to gather. After all, the number of people is physically decreasing, so it is natural that there will be a shortage of people in all industries, but that is not the only reason why it is difficult for people to gather in the logistics field. The distribution center needs a lot of space. Therefore, it is often in the suburbs. Nowadays, shops in the city are open 24 hours a day, and if you order online, they will be shipped from the warehouse even in the middle of the night. This means that the warehouse must be in operation even in the middle of the night. At night, you need someone to work in a warehouse away from the city. In addition, there is a large national highway in the place where the distribution center is located, and the transportation is convenient. Therefore, large-scale shopping malls are often built in the vicinity. If that happens, there will be competition for human hands such as part-time jobs here as well. Few people want to work physically hard at night. And in the logistics industry, there will be a shortage of manpower. It's a common issue in every industry, so let's talk a little more. If we don't collect human resources, we will not be able to respond to sudden increases in orders, and we will not be able to expand our business no matter how good the economy is. However, I often hear from people in each industry and company that it is no longer a story at that level, and that it is now a matter of life and death. Cost cutting is not the only reason for labor savings. No one comes even if I put up a job or raise the hourly wage. However, customer demands are only increasing. I can't handle it. This is a universal problem that Japan has. Right now, even if I can secure the last-minute manpower and work around, I can't feel at ease. As is clear from the demographics, there is no reason for the labor shortage to be resolved in the future. In the future, there is also the problem that the number of people requiring long-term care will increase rapidly, and the number of people who need long-term care will be increased. Rather, things are easily expected to get worse. After all, in Japan, the population aged 65 and over will be 30% in 2020, the total population will be less than 100 million in 2050, and the population aged 65 and over will reach 40% in 2060. This is the reality. It's not someone else's problem. If you're reading this article now, you'll have no hesitation in buying books, clothing, food, and more online. As time goes by, people get older, and it becomes inconvenient to go out, they become more dependent on mail order. It is obvious that the needs for logistics will increase further in the future. Therefore, it is the view of most management that if we can't save labor by reviewing the entire business even if we stop it now, it will be very bad in the future. Otto's AGV self-propelled in the warehouse

Unitization and division of business is the way to systematization

However, this is not the only reason why robots can be expected to be used in the logistics field. The reason is that many processes have already been automated and mechanized in the logistics field. First and foremost, while dealing with a wide variety of luggage, they are organized into prescribed units in the form of containers, pallets, and cases. As with any job, grouping them into specified units not only makes the machine easier to handle, but also makes it easier to systemize. It's important, so I'd like to emphasize it. Machines can do their jobs in an environment where the entire work flow is systematized and structured, and each task is divided into units that can be replaced by automated machines. It is foolish to try to handle a wide variety of things as they are, but in reality, there are many industries as they are. It's already ending in the logistics industry and moving forward. Things are grouped into a specified size and a specified unit, and move from a specified place to a place in a fixed way. Of course, the information about it will move with it. If the task can be divided into situations where only "doing the same thing exactly" is required, that is, if the required specifications are appropriate, the machine can fully demonstrate its performance. The same is true for robots that can do different tasks by swapping programs. This is true not only in logistics but also in other fields. It can be said that it is a necessary condition for robotization and automation. To put it the other way around, the use of robots in other industries is not progressing well because this is not possible. Before robotization, systematization is necessary first. And at the distribution site, the work that people are currently doing is often divided. Currently, the work that people are doing is mainly picking up and transporting between processes. It's just because people have to do it because the machine's capacity is still insufficient, and many jobs such as shipping and packaging have already been sufficiently structured and divided. There is. That's how much the environment is prepared in advance. Each step narrows down what to do. With the addition of new technologies here, we will gradually be able to do things that we couldn't do before. This is the biggest reason why robotization and automation can be expected in the logistics field in the future. When it comes to logistics and robots, people who think of Amazon's mobile shelf robots that move around in warehouses at the "Fulfillment Center" and, more recently, ASKUL's "ASKUL Logi PARK Metropolitan Area" picking robots. I think there are many. There are also many transfer robots. However, in order for them to be introduced, it is necessary to prepare for that or change the way of thinking. Amazon's Fulfillment Center I would like to emphasize once again that if it is an industry of this type, or if it is an industry that can be structured in this way even if it can not be realized yet, it will continue to be robotized.・ It also means that automation can be expected. I think the logistics industry will be a good example for those who want to enter the robot industry in the future.One of the distribution center introduction videos by Daifuku

Logistics industry automation system

Logistics platform of ASKUL and Rojaco For example, in the case of mail order, which is familiar to the general public, after ordering products from customers and receiving orders through the system, the procedures of inventory / receipt (shelfing), picking, packing, sorting, and delivery are taken. Each of these processes is system management designed. At the back, box-making machines that automatically make cardboard boxes, automatic packing using tapes and films, and sorting by automatic sorters are often talked about online and often introduced in TV variety shows. So I think I've seen it somewhere. Just watching the video makes me feel very good. You can watch it forever. Intralox Sorter Some of these machines use a special wheel mechanism called the "omni wheel," which is often used in omnidirectional mobile robots. So to speak, the omnidirectional mobile robot is attached in the opposite direction, and the luggage is carried on it. Cellular Conveyor's omnidirectional moving cell conveyor I think there are still many robot technologies that can be used in this way. For that purpose, robot engineers and people in various fields need to interact more with each other. Fully automatic box making machine that assembles cardboard It is difficult to automate the last part, the so-called "last mile", the part that is unloaded from the truck and delivered to each household. For some condominiums, it may be possible to develop and install a device such as an automatic delivery box as a facility on the building side rather than the logistics side, but even the entrance of any home can be handled by a machine. It is impossible to deliver it unless a machine similar to a human can be made. Some help will be mechanized, but it will probably remain a non-automated task to the end. In the media, the picture that the robot comes to the front door is interesting, so this part is often overemphasized and conveyed, but the real innovation is progressing in the part that is not so visible.