As Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) become more technologically advanced and capable of handling over 50 totes per hour per unit, they are increasingly becoming the go-to choice for designers, touted as potential replacements for conveyors. But are they really?

There’s no denying that AMRs bring unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and modularity to operations. A single tote-handling AMR typically requires about 4 square meters of space to operate under optimal conditions and can scale according to demand. Conversely, conveyors don’t have a minimum space requirement but are limited by their fixed design capacity. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the strengths of AMRs—scalability, flexibility, and modularity—and the minimal space requirements of conveyors can also become significant constraints in low- and high-throughput scenarios.