Automated logistics handling at Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery storage facilities to be managed by autonomous mobile robots

Moscow, September 22 - Neftegaz.RU. Testing of new goods-handling robots at the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery’s digital logistics facility, involving automated platforms from leading Russian and international producers, is now complete. Following completion of this project Gazprom Neft has selected promising solutions for developing a fully automated logistics system.

Robots were tested on undertaking various kinds of goods-handling tasks, including interacting with existing self-driving forklift trucks and undertaking operations involving a multi-level vertical storage system, with robots being assigned tasks in real time through a WiFi network thanks to full integration with warehouse management systems.

The process of delivering goods from storage cell to pick-up window happens on a completely standalone (offline) basis. Warehouse employees’ safety is ensured by all automated machinery being fitted with sensors which, in the event of a person appearing in such sensor’s line of vision, immediately stop any movement by the platform.

The Russian-manufactured 1.5-tonne-payload Ronavi H1500 was used for the 1st time in testing particularly heavy freight: one of this AMR’s advantages also being its high-capacity battery, allowing it to operate for up to eight hours without recharging.

Based on the outcomes of tests on these new model robots, Gazprom Neft plans to create a single and cohesive IT platform for managing all robotics solutions within its digital logistics facility.

The new 15,000 m2 logistics facility at the Gazprom Neft Moscow Refinery was opened in early 2020. Digitising processes during its development has made it possible to optimise storage capacity by 40%, speed up access to goods, eliminate any risk of inventory discrepancies, and reduce the total costs of warehousing operations by as much as 30%.

The digital logistics facility includes an automated warehouse outlet, a vertical lift storage system, automated pallet transport, and other robotised technologies. For employees’ convenience, the facility’s navigation system also uses augmented-reality (AR) technologies, meaning data on the location of required products can be instantly obtained through glasses fitted with an AR headset.