The Controller
The brain, in control. Always.
The brain, in control. Always.
The Controller is the brain of AutoStore™. It knows the location of every Bin, every Robot, and every Port. Always. It is the command center of AutoStore.
The Controller processes order intake from the warehouse management system to assign tasks. Utilizing AutoStore software, the Controller sends tasks to Robots, directing their actions to find and collect Bins. Plotting their path through the Grid using the AutoStore software platform Router, the Controller is constantly adjusting the location and path of Robots in real time.
Router utilizes sophisticated computer algorithms to continuously calculate and recalculate in real time the most efficient path for AutoStore Robots.
Every second, the software analyzes and adapts to operational changes, accelerating the fulfillment process to maintain an optimized order flow. In this way the system is able to process and adapt to external changes, such as new orders, order cancellations, and movement of personnel.
The Controller plans and schedules tasks to Robots and acts as an advanced traffic cop. It is constantly logging Bin and Robot positions in real time. The Controller will also run diagnostic troubleshooting when Robot errors occur using XHandler, greatly increasing the system's uptime.
This simple box contains the command center of AutoStore. A network connection to your infrastructure, a network switch, and the Controller PC are included in the Controller module. These provide the physical interface to your network. Delivering advanced access control for service personnel, it simplifies the planning and scheduling of tasks.
AutoStore offers different standard interfaces (APIs) for the communication between AutoStore and WMS (picking/goods in and port operations).
Yes, all activity among other failures are logged and are traceable. The WMS can trace all Bins via Log Publisher. The customer needs to maintain the bin contents within their WMS and back up all critical data.
Night preparation is a strategy where the Customer knows all, or maybe only a certain number of Bins needed to fulfill the orders the next day.
The orders are already in the system the evening before and the Customer could benefit from pre-digging them up at night. The more bins known the better the night preparation and the new Bin distribution will be.
This strategy is possible as long as the Robots get enough charging during the night. It might be necessary to have a superuser on-site if something goes wrong during the night.
Forecasting is a strategy used by the customer to predict the usage of Bins for the next day based on data from the past (statistically from previous days or years).
The idea is to prepare a certain number of SKUs (Bins) at night so when the picking activity starts the next day, we can get a good match between the real orders and the forecasted Bins. It is important to note that only with a very high hit rate of the forecast is the forecasting beneficial, and the customer’s warehouse management system (WMS) is responsible for the forecasting strategy.
Yes, changes to tasks or task groups already transferred to AutoStore are possible. But each change may have a negative influence on the speed and efficiency of the system later as the system may have already used Robot resources to prepare that Bin.
Consumer behavior has changed; supply chains have not. Let's talk today to see how AutoStore can build resilience in your operations and let you stand out from your competitors.
