06 most common Types of Warehouse Robotics 2025

After years of innovation, smart warehouses in 2025 offer a wide range of types of warehouse robotics. From simple systems like conveyors and forklifts to advanced robots like AGVs and AMRs, businesses often struggle to choose the right fit. In this article, Phenikaa-X breaks down each type of warehouse robot, helping you make the best choice for your operations.

1. Introduction to Warehouse Robotics

Warehouse robotics are automated systems designed to handle tasks like picking, packing, and transporting goods in warehouses. These technologies include mobile robots that navigate freely, fixed arms for precise operations, and conveyors for bulk movement, all aimed at streamlining logistics and reducing manual effort.

The need for warehouse robotics has surged due to growing demands in global supply chains, particularly in e-commerce, where fast and accurate order fulfillment is critical. Labor shortages have made it challenging to maintain consistent operations, pushing businesses to adopt automation to fill the gap. These systems also enhance efficiency by minimizing errors, speeding up processes, and enabling round-the-clock operations, which is essential for staying competitive in fast-paced markets.

As technology advances, warehouse robots are becoming more sophisticated, incorporating AI, advanced sensors, and modular designs. These innovations allow robots to adapt to complex tasks, handle diverse inventory, and integrate seamlessly with warehouse systems. This article explores the types of warehouse robotics, helping you understand their differences and choose the most suitable solution for your business needs.

2. Main Types of Warehouse Robotics

2.1. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR)

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) are fully automobile robot that capable of navigate freely using AI, sensor system (SLAM, LiDAR) and cameras, adapting to dynamic layouts. They excel in e-commerce, carrying goods (100-1,500 kg) to picking or packing stations. These AMR robots are designed for productivity by collaborating with workers, cutting picking times by 50% based on research by Locus Robotics in 2025.

Pros:

• Highly flexible, adjusts to layout changes.
• Scalable via software updates.
• AI-driven and logical thinking for better decision making.
• Advance sensor system, enhance safety for worker and facility
• Capable of replacing humans in many repetitive tasks.

Cons:

• High cost ($50,000–$100,000/unit).
• Requires strong Wi-Fi for real-time processing.

In recent years (2020-2025), the advance of AI and IoT empowered AMR, making them more ideal for high-speed e-commerce warehouses facing peak demands. AMR is proven to be the future of industrial automation, currently the best choice by a lot of big companies, such as Alibaba and Amazon. 

2.2. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV)

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) are the predecessors of AMR, which make them have the same design as AMR, but instead they follow fixed paths marked with magnetic strips or lasers. This makes them ideal for repetitive tasks in stable layouts. They are capable of moving heavy pallets and cargo (up to 2,500 kg) with 99% uptime, as seen in Toyota’s warehouses, according to Toyota năm 2025. Hybrid AGV-AMR models are gaining traction.

Pros:

• Cost per unit is quite affordable, suitable even for SME. 
• Reliable for consistent tasks.
• Energy-efficient for long-haul transport.
• Easy to setup and use.

Cons

• Inflexible – route changes require infrastructure updates.
• Limited adaptability in dynamic settings.
• Require minor infrastructure setup.

The AGV disadvantage does not make it inferior to AMR. On the contrary, AGV can outperform AMR in executing fixed routes with precision and consistency. Many smart warehouses are adopting hybrid AGV-AMR, combining fixed-path reliability with limited autonomous navigation. These models use AI or manually switch between guided and free navigation, suiting warehouses transitioning to partial automation without major infrastructure overhauls.

For AGV and AMR comparison, you can check the AGV vs AMR article, shared by Phenikaa-X’s engineers.

2.1. Traditional Conveyor Systems

Conveyor systems move goods continuously using belts or rollers, often with smart sensors for sorting. They’re fixed systems designed for high-volume tasks in stable layouts.

Pros:

• High speed for bulk handling.
• Low maintenance once installed.
• Can easily pair with other warehouse robotics for maximum efficiency.

Cons:

• Inflexible; reconfiguration is costly.
• Takes up significant space.
• Require other personnel or robotics to support.

Smart conveyors integrate IoT and AI for predictive maintenance, minimizing downtime. Modular designs allow partial reconfiguration, making them more adaptable for mid-sized warehouses with variable order volumes.

2.3. Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS)

AS/RS is the type of warehouse robot that is equipped with cranes or shuttles to store and retrieve goods in high-density racks, optimizing vertical space. They are controlled via a computer system, integrated with warehouse management systems for fast, automated inventory handling. 

Pros:

• Provides greater storage capacity within the same space, optimizing area usage.
• High throughput for inventory tasks.
• Very safe, rarely any risk of danger. 
• Fast in material handling and other tasks.

Cons:

• High Initial Investment in all aspect: designing, purchasing and installing
• Difficult to maintenance, which also makes those tasks become more expensive. 
• Limited flexibility. 

AS/RS can be easily fit into any warehouse type, helping even small and medium size warehouses capable of having tons of storage space. They are the best pick if you want to utilize a warehouse inside the city area.

2.4. Collaborative Robots (Cobots)

Cobots is the type of warehouse robotic designed to work alongside humans. They handle repetitive tasks like picking or packing, boosting human productivity in shared workspaces. Equipped with a complex sensor system, they can scan the environment and detect obstacles, avoid collisions and enhance safety to humans. Voice-activated controls and real-time analytics improve collaboration, making them ideal for warehouses balancing human and robotic workflows.

Pros:

• Following humans to support tasks like transporting, storaging,…
• Easy to program and deploy.
• Safe for collaborative settings.

Cons:

• Limited to lighter payloads.
• Less suited for full automation.

2.5. Robotic Arms

Robotic arms perform precise tasks like palletizing or picking, often using AI for grasping. They can be fixed or mounted on mobile platforms for added flexibility. They are best when pairing with other robots like AMR and AGV to expand their use in dynamic warehouses, supporting flexible palletizing and sorting tasks.

Pros:

• Perform tasks with consistent precision.
• Reduces errors in picking or packing.
• Robotic systems can be adjusted to handle changing demands, helping businesses adapt to busy periods
• Robots can perform dangerous, repetitive, or heavy-lifting tasks, enhanced with sensors to provide a safety system. 

Cons:

• Stationary unless mobile-enabled.
• Implementing robotic arms can be costly

In recent years, Robotic arms are equipped with QR/Barcode scanners, allowing them to perform product scanning tasks. They are very easy to integrate, making them the best choice for manufacturing-warehousing hybrid systems.

2.6. Drones

Drones are one of the newest robotic systems implanted inside warehouse facilities. They are used to perform aerial inventory scans using RFID or cameras, quickly auditing stock in large warehouses. They’re lightweight and efficient for high-rack environments.

 

Pros:

• Fast inventory checks.
• Cost-effective for specific tasks.
• Can easily move and check inventory in hard-to-reach areas.

Cons:

• Limited payload capacity.
• Subject to regulatory restrictions.

Swarm technology enables multiple drones to scan simultaneously, speeding up audits in large facilities. Improved battery life and 5G connectivity support continuous operation, making drones a staple for mega-warehouse inventory management.

3. Comparison of Different Types of Warehouse Robotics

Below is the comparison table made by Phenikaa-X, compares key metrics to help you choose the right types of warehouse robotics suit your businesses:

Type	Mobility	Human Involvement	AI Integration	Flexibility	Cost (Initial)	Speed/Efficiency	Applications	Sustainability
AMR	Autonomous	Minimal	Yes	High	Medium-High	High	Picking, Transport	High
AGV	Guided	Low	Partial/No	Medium	Low-Medium	Medium	Pallet Moving	Medium
Conveyor	Stationary	Low	Partial (IoT)	Low	High	High	Sorting, Packaging	Low
AS/RS	Guided	Minimal	Yes	Medium	High	High	Storage, Retrieval	High
Cobot	Collaborative	High	Yes	High	Medium	Medium-High	Picking, Assembly	High
Robotic Arm	Stationary/Mobile	Low-Medium	Yes	Medium	Medium	High	Palletizing, Picking	Medium
Drone	Aerial	Minimal	Yes	High	Low-Medium	High	Inventory Scanning	High (low energy)c

4. Which Warehouse robotic to choose and when

From the chart above, Phenikaa-X outlines some main points of when to choose and key priorities for each types of warehouse robotics depends on your business needs, budget, and operational scale:

• AMR: The most modern and advanced system on the list, which makes it the most efficient but expensive at the same time. Opt for AMR if you need high flexibility and full automation. They’re ideal for dynamic e-commerce warehouses with frequent layout changes or mixed-item picking.
• AGV: AGV function is quite similar to AMR, except for the navigating power. In terms of price, AGV is considered to be cost-effective solutions in stable, repetitive environments, but you need to check the cost of buying AGV fleet alone and the cost of remodeling warehouse infrastructure, since AGV will require you to tune up a little. 
• Conveyor Systems: Classic traditional style of robotic inside warehouse. Not flexible like other robots but you definitely want a conveyor system for high-throughput sorting or packing in large-scale operations with fixed layouts.
• AS/RS: AS/RS is well known as the “real deal” for space-constrained warehouses needing high-density storage. You would want to have AS/RS if you have a large scare business, for example E-commerce, while still needing a warehouse close or inside the city where space is limited.
• Cobots: Cobots is the option if you want a robot that is capable of collaborating with workers. They are very easy to deploy and can boost 70% human work inside the facility. 
• Robotic Arms: Robotic Arms is quite a standard old-school type of robot inside a warehouse that helps people with picking and sorting products. Choose robotic arms for precision tasks like palletizing delicate items.
• Drones: Drone is still new in the warehousing industry. The best use of them is to support workers managing large scale warehouses with scanners and flying capability.

So in conclusion, we have: 

• AGV and Cobots Conveyor system is the best pick for cost efficiency. They are easy to purchase, cost of installation is not really expensive and easy to suit with any warehouse model.
• AMR and AGV will be the best if you want to fully automate your warehouse. They can completely replace humans in heavy and repetitive work, increase efficiency and productivity, while also preventing dangers. 
• Robotic Arms will be the best choice if your business includes both manufacturing and warehousing, maximizing the advantage of operating in both fields.
• Drone only use for maximum management efficiency, allowing operators to check and scan packages from long and safe distances.
• AR/RS system is working best if you want to maximize storage space, especially in small-medium size warehouses. So if you are planning on having a storage facility inside a city area where space is often small, AR/SR is the choice.

Conclusion 

The above article summarizes and introduces the 06 most commonly used types of warehouse robotics. With the growing demand for goods and the development of e-commerce requiring continuous storage and transportation, businesses are gradually shifting to smart warehouse systems through various robot options. Understanding the characteristics and functions of each robot type will help businesses make accurate and suitable choices for their operations.

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