Logistics and Mechatronics Related Research in Mobile Robot-Based Material Handling

AbstractMobile robots play an important role in the operation of automatised, flexible manufacturing plants because flexible, reliable and cost-efficient material handling solutions can be performed. The fourth industrial revolution makes it possible to integrate new technologies and tools and transform conventional material handling solutions into high-tech, state-of-the-art cyber-physical solutions. Within the frame of this article, the authors are focusing on two important fields of mobile robot-based material handling solutions focusing on both mechatronics and the logistics of mobile robots. After a systematic literature review, the potentials of mechatronics and logistics-related topics are discussed, focusing on trajectory planning, controlling and Petri-net based simulation of mobile robot-based material handling solutions. The discussed results show that both mechatronics and logistics are important for the efficiency improvement of mobile robot-based material handling solutions.KeywordsMobile robotsAutomated guided vehiclesMaterial handlingEfficiency improvementLogisticsTrajectory design