An AMR (autonomous mobile robot) is a wheeled robot that navigates a facility using onboard sensors and maps, planning its own route and steering around obstacles. It moves material without fixed guide paths.
An AMR builds or loads a map of the facility and localizes itself with lidar, cameras, and wheel and inertial sensors. A fleet manager assigns missions, such as "take this cart from line 3 to shipping," and the robot plans a path. When a person or pallet blocks the aisle, it replans or waits.
The key difference from an AGV (automated guided vehicle) is navigation. Classic AGVs follow fixed paths defined by wires, magnetic tape, or markers, and stop when blocked. AMRs navigate freely within mapped areas. In practice the categories overlap, as newer AGVs add natural navigation. NIST treats AMRs as autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (A-UGVs) and supports test methods through ASTM Committee F45.
Limits: AMRs need clean, stable floors, reasonably consistent layouts, and integration with doors, elevators, and MES or WMS systems. Throughput in crowded aisles can be lower than expected. Payloads mounted on top range from carts and conveyors to robot arms (mobile manipulators).
Questions about AMR
Is an AMR the same as an AGV?
No. The difference is navigation. A classic AGV follows a fixed path set by wires, magnetic tape or markers and stops when blocked. An AMR moves freely inside the areas it has mapped. The two categories overlap in practice, since newer AGVs add natural navigation.
What do you need before AMRs work in a plant?
Clean, stable floors and a layout that stays reasonably consistent. The robots also have to be integrated with doors, elevators and the MES or WMS. In crowded aisles, throughput can be lower than expected.
How does an AMR find its way?
It builds or loads a map of the facility and locates itself on it using lidar, cameras, and wheel and inertial sensors. A fleet manager hands it a mission and the robot plans the path. If a person or a pallet is in the way, it replans or waits.
AMR in real plants
- Mariana Minerals and Boston Dynamics: Mariana Minerals is deploying Spot at its Copper One copper facility in Utah to automate routine inspections and collect field data for its operations software.
- TPV Displays Polska and KUKA: A fleet of 22 KUKA KMP 1500P autonomous mobile robots moves TV panels and components between the warehouse and ten assembly lines at the Gorzów Wielkopolski TV plant.
- Lidl and Boston Dynamics: Lidl plans to deploy 22 Stretch robots by mid-2026 to unload floor-loaded cases from containers at import warehouses in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Spain, after a test phase.
- Krone and KUKA: At its Werlte plant, KRONE uses KUKA KMP 1500P autonomous mobile robots to deliver compressed air tanks to welding cells where KUKA handling and welding robots process them.
- Krone and KUKA: In the greenfield factory in Ibbenbüren, built by KRONE subsidiary GTS, nine KUKA welding and handling robots work with autonomous mobile robots to make welded assemblies for agricultural machinery.
Vendors linked to AMR
KUKA (4) · OMRON (4) · Boston Dynamics (3) · Agility Robotics
Related terms
AGV (automated guided vehicle)
An AGV (automated guided vehicle) is a driverless vehicle that moves materials along fixed or predefined paths, guided by floor wires, magnetic tape, reflectors or markers, in factories and warehouses.
Cobot (collaborative robot)
A cobot (collaborative robot) is an industrial robot designed to work in close proximity to people, with safety functions that limit speed, force, or distance so that fencing can be reduced or removed after a risk assessment.
Lights-out manufacturing
Lights-out manufacturing is production that runs fully automated without people on site, so lights, and sometimes heating, can be switched off.
Physical AI
Physical AI is AI that perceives, reasons about, and acts in the physical world, typically through robots, vehicles, or machines.