Automated Case-handling Robot (ACR)

Automated Case-handling Robots (ACRs) are Goods-to-Person automation solutions designed to transport totes or cartons directly to picking or packing stations.

Instead of operators walking long distances to retrieve items, ACRs bring the required goods to the operator—significantly improving picking speed, accuracy, and labor productivity. This solution is ideal for warehouses and fulfillment centers handling high order volumes with small to medium-sized items.

An Automated Case-handling Robot operates within a structured storage and transport environment, retrieving totes or cartons from storage locations and delivering them to Goods-to-Person workstations.

Orders are released from the WMS or control system, which assigns tasks to the robots. ACRs navigate to the correct storage position, retrieve the required case or tote, and transport it to the operator station for picking, packing, or consolidation.

After processing, the robot returns the container to storage or routes it to the next downstream process such as packing, sortation, or shipping.

This setup enables high-speed, accurate, and labor-efficient order fulfillment.

System Structure

Automated Case-handling Robot systems typically include:

• ACR robots – designed to transport totes or cartons
• Storage structure or shelving – holding totes or cartons
• Goods-to-Person workstations – ergonomic pick or pack stations
• Control software – managing task allocation, routing, and prioritization

Optional features and enhancements include:

• Integration with WMS, WCS, or ERP systems
• Pick-to-light or visual picking aids
• Conveyor interfaces for inbound and outbound flow
• Order buffering and sequencing logic
• Performance dashboards and analytics