For nearly a century, forklift operators and drivers of other materials handling equipment have been able to rely upon a steady supply of work. Being a certified forklift operator meant that there was always a job thanks to the central role forklifts and other heavy equipment play in the warehouse and manufacturing industries.
But now that mainstay is being questioned. Seegrid Corporation — a Pittsburgh-based manufacturer of materials handling vehicles — is one of many companies that specialize in driverless Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for use in the materials handling industry. And John Hayes, the company’s vice president for sales and marketing, said is now taking aim at the US automotive industry.
“Flexible AGVs will play a major role in streamlining the automotive,” Hayes recently said September 6 in a news release. “By implementing flexible AGVs, the automotive industry is able to address the non-stop demand for improved productivity. These unmanned vehicles drive a decrease in labor costs, improve safety and health of worker, and improve efficiencies.”
Increase Efficiency, Lower Costs
Most AGVs use lasers, tape and wires to guide where they go. One of the biggest advantages, besides the labor cost savings, is that they can be programmed to increase efficiency in industrial and warehousing operations.
Hayes denied that AGVs take jobs away from forklift operators and other heavy equipment drivers. As an example, he pointed to a worker at the distribution center for Giant Eagle, a large supermarket chain.
“Leon from Giant Eagle was a general warehouseman and took over the project of managing and maintaining the robot fleet,” Hayes said. “He was responsible for setting up all the routes and training the robots. Leon is just one example of many who are placed into a more fulfilling role. Different roles support different processes in manufacturing and distribution centers.”
Are Driverless Cars Next?
AGVs are now being used for more than just moving products from one side of a warehouse or factory to the other. Technological advancements have made them more prevalent in hospitals, the military and other industries. Some automakers — and even the Internet giant Google — are even experimenting with driverless cars.
In August, General Motors announced that by 2020 it expects to be building cars that use radar and cameras to steer the car, keep it between lanes, maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and even brake to a complete stop entirely on its own. Does that mean that truck drivers could be the next to be replaced by robots?
Safety Concerns
Some fear there may be a downside to removing humans from vehicle operation. On the one side, there are jobs like forklift operator that are lost. On the other side, there are safety concerns.
In Oregon, a legislative bill that sought to allow driverless cars to operate in that state died in committee shortly after the Boston Marathon bombing among fears that driverless cars could be used as “drones” to deliver armed bombs for terrorists.
The technological advances that allow AGVs and other driverless vehicles is here to stay, but so are concerns among some that using robots to do jobs previously performed by humans may have unintended long-term consequences.