Drones are a hot topic right now. We’re seeing drones used more and more in the military, as a hobby, and even in the industrial world. It was big news when Amazon announced that they would be using drones for delivery, and the company is currently testing their Prime Air delivery drones in centers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Israel. So are other industries going to follow suit soon? Could drones be coming to your warehouse?

How Drones Could Work in the Warehouse

There are a number of advantages to using a drone in your warehouse. First, it’s simply an extension of the automation that many warehouses are putting in place. If you are using an automated conveyor system, a robotic order picker, or other automation systems, you are already one step closer to using a drone. One of the most obvious places that a drone could take over is by replacing the function fulfilled by your current conveyor system.

Instead of employees needing to walk over to the conveyor system and lift heavy packages onto the belt, a drone can do it all for them. Imagine your team picking orders into their cart or basket, and when they are done, the cart simply lifts into the air and delivers itself to the packing area. This is even better than a self-driving cart since in the air there will be less chance for a collision with your human workers and less floor space dedicated to cart paths.

Why You Probably Won’t See Them Anytime Soon

This could be the future of warehouse materials handling. But for now, it’s likely going to be up to big companies like Amazon to work out the kinks of integrating technology like self-flying drones into the warehouse environment. Once this sort of system becomes commonplace for them, the technology will get better (and cheaper!) and filter down to smaller warehouse operations. Until that happens, it’s unlikely that you’ll be using drones in your warehouse anytime soon.

Until You Have Drones, You Have RMH Systems

If you are looking for a way to improve the operations in your warehouse, RMH Systems can help. From automated conveyor systems to consulting on pick and pack management, we’re your partners in creating an efficient, well-run warehouse that maximizes your space and your profits. Get in touch with our project managers today and they’ll help you develop the solutions that you need. Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch with you right away!