ArcBest® has unveiled the latest advancement in its innovative Vaux suite: Vaux Smart Autonomy. This comprehensive solution integrates autonomous mobile robot (AMR) forklifts and reach trucks, sophisticated software, and remote teleoperation capabilities. Designed to manage material movement autonomously within warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities, Vaux Smart Autonomy maintains human involvement throughout the process. Notably, it stands out as the sole autonomous material handling technology in the market that offers inherent flexibility, adapting seamlessly to variations in facilities, processes, and product characteristics.
Building upon the introduction of ArcBest’s groundbreaking suite of hardware and software, the Vaux Freight Movement System, the company has unveiled Vaux Smart Autonomy. Recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023, the Vaux Freight Movement System has revolutionized freight handling, drastically reducing a time-consuming process to a matter of minutes.
Judy R. McReynolds, ArcBest’s Chairman, President, and CEO, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and ongoing investments in technology, driving profitable growth and ensuring customers’ success in an increasingly complex supply chain landscape. Vaux Smart Autonomy is positioned to transform material handling for customers, optimizing and unlocking greater efficiencies in warehouses, distribution centers, and overall supply chain operations.
ArcBest’s customer-centric approach, backed by a history of delivering solutions aligned with evolving needs, is supported by an annual investment of $175 million in technology and innovation. Vaux Smart Autonomy, designed to create smarter, safer, and more efficient material handling processes, seamlessly integrates with existing facilities and workflows. The technology’s versatility allows the AMR forklift and reach truck fleet to operate autonomously, remotely, or manually, catering to diverse business needs.
Equipped with advanced software, sensors, and cameras, these vehicles can navigate warehouses safely, identify pallets and racking systems, and execute tasks such as loading, unloading, moving goods, and stacking pallets. Additional features include advanced dimensioning and 2D barcoding functionality. A teleoperator center complements autonomous vehicles, monitoring multiple robots simultaneously and intervening remotely when human assistance is required.
Vaux Smart Autonomy is designed to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. When combined with the Vaux Freight Movement System, they offer synergies that enhance supply chain efficiency. The Vaux Freight Movement System facilitates the quick unloading of an entire trailer in under five minutes, while Vaux Smart Autonomy forklifts and reach trucks autonomously handle material handling processes on the dock.
The integration of the Vaux suite provides the industry’s only end-to-end autonomous warehouse materials movement solution, addressing logistics complexities and building efficiencies. Michael Newcity, Chief Innovation Officer of ArcBest and President of ArcBest Technologies, highlighted the company’s commitment to solving problems in new ways. Vaux Smart Autonomy, currently being piloted with customers across industries like manufacturing, automotive, and retail, offers a practical solution that enhances efficiencies, provides labor flexibility, and fosters a safer working environment, even for companies with traditionally complex operations.
Watch the short video at arcb.com/technology/vaux/smart-autonomy to see Vaux Smart Autonomy’s capabilities. For additional details on the complete Vaux suite, visit arcb.com/technology/vaux. To learn more about ArcBest’s full scope of industry-leading technologies, go to arcb.com/technology.
ABOUT ARCBEST
ArcBest® is a multibillion-dollar integrated logistics company that helps keep the global supply chain moving. Founded in 1923 and now with 15,000 employees across 250 campuses and service centers, the company is a logistics powerhouse, using its technology, expertise, and scale to connect shippers with the solutions they need — from ground, air, and ocean transportation to fully managed supply chains. ArcBest has a long history of innovation that is enriched by deep customer relationships. With a commitment to helping customers navigate supply chain challenges now and in the future, the company is developing ground-breaking technology like Vaux™, one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023. For more information, visit arcb.com.