Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and partner company RV Automation Technology Company Limited have opened the first unmanned warehouse in Hong Kong.

Called the RobEx Centre, the 24/7 warehouse service is targeted at express courier and self-storage customers, and has already secured clients such as FedEx and ZTO Express, as well as several online marketplaces. The fully automated facility measures 179 square metres and features 97 moveable racks with 12 spaces each. These racks are picked up and moved around the warehouse by a small fleet of autonomous mobile robots produced by RV Automation that are capable of lifting a maximum weight of 500kg.

“We thank HKSTP for the support and giving us this venue to test our solutions and allow the RobEx Centre to go live,” said Rio Chau, chief executive officer of RV Automation. “Many companies worked with us to make the RobEx Centre a reality, from technology providers, to e-commerce and logistics and delivery companies. We hope to bring a whole new 24/7 user experience for consumers as well as bring multiple benefits for warehouse operators with potentially new revenue streams in warehousing services. For real estate developers, this smart system improves utilization of space and per-square-foot yields. With it being a living showcase, we will continually bring new technologies to improve its capabilities and show the world how the logistics industry can be more productive and efficient.”

RV Automation first tested a similar smart warehousing platform in a business-to-business environment in 2017 but has now improved and implemented it in a business-to-consumer context.

As with conventional courier deliveries, users will receive an SMS alert containing a reference code from the carrier. They then access the system by means of a mobile app or with the control panel on site. After a brief verification process, which could include facial recognition, one of the robotic vehicles automatically retrieves the package from the right storage rack and brings it to the collection slot. The whole process takes about a minute and does not involve any human intervention.

The smart warehouse system makes automatic calculations to maximize the use of space by commanding the robots to shift the storage racks around the facility. Because the operation of the warehouse is unmanned, it is not subject to the usual fire regulations. The use of electricity is also reduced because the warehouse does not need to be illuminated or air-conditioned.

“This first-of-its-kind facility is the culmination of work led by HKSTP, RV Automation and many technology and business partners,” said Albert Wong, chief executive officer of HKSTP. “It is a living showcase of how we can embrace innovation and technology in the logistics industry, a key pillar of Hong Kong’s economy. Science Park, as a government-designated Smart Region, is the venue where innovative solutions will be piloted. We hope to showcase even more cutting-edge solutions that will drive Hong Kong closer to becoming a smart city.”

The smart warehouse serves a community of approximately 10,000 people and is a concept which can be replicated across Hong Kong, according to the HKSTP.

By Jeffrey Lee

Asia Cargo News | Hong Kong