More orders, fewer staff: more and more production and logistics companies are turning to automation to meet the current challenges of the market. Mechanical engineering companies offer a broad portfolio of solutions, but a coherent overall package is crucial for efficient warehouse processes. Patika Robotics offers a new, innovative generation of automotive transport robots – which the Turkish company combines with Wiferion’s inductive charging solution to create a powerful complete solution.
There are many methods for maximizing a company’s profits. In Turkey, five tech-savvy friends saw one solution in particular: intelligent robots. Driven by a shared passion, they founded Patika Robotics in 2018 and developed their first autonomous vehicle. Six years later, the company, headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey, has grown to 15 employees and is leading a new generation of autonomous mobile robots (AMR) with a payload capacity of up to 4 tons for use in the automotive, textile, energy storage and metal industries. As a new in-house supplier to a major German corporation, Patika Robotics has opened a second production site in Germany in addition to its plant in Sakarya, Turkey: The company’s European customers are now supplied from the service and production center in Neuwied. They receive a high-performance dual package that combines an intelligent transport system with an efficient charging structure. The cooperation between Patika and Wiferion shows how promising a common innovative denominator can be.
Non-invasive and flexible: Patika and Wiferion bring movement to the industry
Unlike some other driverless transport vehicles, the PTK1350 autonomous transport robot from Patika does not require a network of magnetic strips to define its movement routes, but can navigate freely and maneuverably even through narrow aisles. “We wanted to develop a robot that does not require any adjustments to the existing infrastructure or special markings,” says Halil Ibrahim Doksanoglu, General Manager bei at Patika. “The PTK1350 can be installed without much effort. This makes it easy and cost-effective to use. This is precisely why we opted for Wiferion’s cahrging solution. etaLINK 3000 can be integrated into existing warehouses just as easily and without complications.”
Wiferion’s inductive charging system for the latest generation of intelligent and autonomous robot systems does not require any major structural changes. Instead, the charging pads are placed in a few strategic locations in the warehouse so that they are easily accessible for AMR and ensure a reliable power supply. In this way, Wiferion enables the intermediate charging of batteries without plug and sliding contacts. With “in-process charging”, companies not only save time, but also potential dangers that can arise from open charging contacts, for example.
Charge efficiently, work efficiently: inductive charging for continuous operation
The combination of PTK1350 and etaLINK 3000 is not only easy to implement, but is also characterized by high efficiency. Thanks to patented adaptive fieldset technology, the PTK1350 maneuvers quickly around people and corners and can navigate dynamic and changing environments without compromising safety. Integrated cameras, scanners and intelligent software enable seamless navigation through doorways, tunnels and elevators. Targeted control of the charging pads is also possible without any problems.
As a charging pad from Wiferion can be approached omnidirectionally by a large number of different vehicles, a high positioning tolerance is guaranteed. With an efficiency of 93% and energy transfer from the first second of contact, etaLINK is a particularly efficient charging solution. The lightweight chassis of the PTK1350 and its cladding made of 100 percent recyclable aluminum , which makes it robust despite its low weight, ensure additional efficiency . Secondly, the PTK1350 has a long operating time of at least eight hours. Short charging interruptions are sufficient to keep the robot in continuous operation – the perfect prerequisite for etaLINK 3000, which enables short charging phases without affecting the operating process.
The icing on the efficiency cake is provided by Patika’s specially developed software for autonomous navigation and fleet management at . With Patika Fleet Manager, companies can track and manage the battery performance and job list of their robots at any time. The intuitive visual interface makes it particularly easy to define jobs, assign routes, monitor the status of individual robots and adapt to changes in the plant.
Patika and Wiferion: a symbiosis for maximum efficiency in intralogistics
An agile transport system with a small footprint and minimal infrastructural adjustments offers companies a wide range of opportunities to make their logistics processes more efficient. Patika and Wiferion combine efficiency, agility and safety in an intelligent robot solution with an inductive charging structure and support companies in optimizing their operational processes. The success of the cooperation is primarily due to the high compatibility of both systems . Both AMR and the charging system are non-invasive, flexible and low-maintenance. The inductive charging solution supports the flexibility of the PTK1350 while maximizing uptime.
“With our autonomous transport robots from the PTK1350 series, we automate all intralogistics processes within a company facility and thus contribute to greater efficiency. Fully automated operation allows warehouse employees to focus on tasks other than manual transportation, which saves time and personnel costs,” says Halil Ibrahim Doksanoglu. ” The etaLINK system is an important sales argument for us, which we use as standard hardware in all our robots. The high efficiency resulting from the combination of both systems has another key benefit: the use of our AMR and Wiferion’s inductive charging solution has a positive impact on a company’s CO2 balance.”
