Smart-factory logistics automation company Cowintech said on Wednesday it has newly developed a direction-change mechanism for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The driving mechanism minimises friction when a mobile robot changes direction in place during a spin turn.

The company redesigned the existing DD-type wheel drive structure and direction-change method. Existing AMRs concentrated friction between the wheels and the floor during in-place rotation. This had limitations including reduced driving stability and lower durability with repeated use.

It applied a method that lifts the wheels off the floor in direction-change sections. The company explained that this both improves driving stability and secures reliability in repeated operating environments.

Cowintech secured robot orders worth about 30 billion won last year. Of that, shipments to North America accounted for 75.3 percent. The company expects the technology development to make large-scale AMR orders from global companies at home and abroad visible, as it has raised price competitiveness and flexibility for autonomous mobile robots.

A Cowintech official said, "Through the development of this robot driving direction-change mechanism, we have further strengthened the technological competitiveness of autonomous mobile robots." The official said it would effectively respond to customer needs in global logistics and manufacturing sites where AMRs are deployed on a large scale and where both stability and efficiency are required.

The official added, "Cowintech will implement intelligent logistics automation optimised for manufacturing with control and software technology that integrates and controls the factory-wide logistics flow by linking up to MCS (Material Control System) and WMS (Warehouse Management System) centred on our robot control software RCS (Robot Control System)."