Honeywell and Stereolabs Automate Item Sizing in Warehouses
In a bid to advance the manufacturing industry's operating efficiency within distribution centres, Honeywell has announced a partnership with Stereolabs.
The two companies are developing a sophisticated mobile solution capable of capturing accurate measurements of item sizes and weights.
This technological innovation aims to accelerate delivery times and curtail shipping expenses, both vital components in modern industrial logistics.
The initiative will see the integration of state-of-the-art technologies to foster intelligent manufacturing operations.
Enhancing logistics with innovative tools
Honeywell, a leading player in manufacturing, is a recognised pioneer in various sectors, including aerospace, building automation and industrial automation.
Its broad expertise also extends to energy and sustainability solutions, with a workforce of approximately 110,000 employees worldwide.
Honeywell is well-regarded for addressing logistics challenges through combining innovative technologies and solutions.
Its collaboration with Stereolabs, an AI and 3D vision-focused software development company, merges complementary strengths to create a seamless solution.
Stereolabs brings to the table its stereoscopic cameras, known for real-time depth sensing, motion tracking and 3D mapping.
Integrating these cameras with Honeywell's SwiftDecoder software develops a holistic tool capable of measuring item sizes, volumes and weights effectively.
This innovative combination will enhance logistics operators' planning precision, allowing for optimised truck loading and reduced logistical overheads.
David Barker, President of Honeywell Productivity Solutions and Services, says: “Products stored in a warehouse and transported on a truck contain a wealth of data, from weight and size to the item’s name, expiration date and warning label on the box.
“Finding a way to capture this data in one place and use it effectively to streamline processes presents a challenge for many operations. By combining the strengths of Honeywell and Stereolabs, we can help the supply chain operate more efficiently and address major pain points.”
Streamlining manufacturing operations
Traditionally, many warehouses rely on manual methods like tape measures and scales to gather essential dimensions and weights of products.
Alternatives such as fixed systems or scan tunnels exist but are often inefficient, time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies.
In contrast, this new mobile technology speeds up processes, minimises errors and automates data uploads.
The combination of Stereolabs' ZED camera and Honeywell's software enables real-time capture of crucial metrics, instantly uploading them to a central database.
This accessibility empowers industries to optimise logistics operations, ensuring that transport is both efficient and cost-effective.
“Integrating Honeywell’s SwiftDecoder software together with our ZED cameras and advanced perception stack was a smooth and efficient process,” says Olivier Braun, Chief Product Officer at Stereolabs.
“We are now able to deliver a rich, all-in-one data capture solution, combining product dimensions, barcode data, optical character recognition (OCR) information and high-quality imagery, that is seamlessly ready for integration into any warehouse management system.”
Efficiency in an industrial context
The enhanced solution significantly boosts the efficiency of industrial operations.
In particular, automating measurement tasks allows employees to focus on vital logistics aspects such as coordinating transport, which in turn has the capacity to streamline the entire manufacturing processes.
This innovative solution simplifies previously onerous tasks, leading to long-term savings in both time and resources.
This partnership sets a precedent for how modern technologies can radically improve traditional industrial frameworks, reducing manual labour while improving accuracy and speed across the board, and paving the way for a new standard in industrial logistics.
