- Autonomous mobile robots
- Business challenges
- Make decision
When should you create your own obstacle detection system?
Your mobile robots’ obstacles detection and pallett detection systems are critical to their success. So is bringing your autonomous mobile robot to market on schedule. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to do both.
At some point, you’ll reach the “Make or Buy” decision for these technologies. The choice is a balance between the advantages of a proprietary system versus the resources drain for development and the risk of delaying your time to market.
When should you spend the resources to create your own solutions instead of finding an existing product you can integrate?
In this article, we’ll explore the three reasons why making your solution could be the best choice for your AMR. We’ll also offer some guidance on how to weigh these factors and look at some options for third-party support during development.
Three reasons to make your own obstacle detection system
It’s often a better idea to make your own obstacle detection or pallet detection system for your autonomous mobile robot if you meet at least two of the following three criteria:
The solution is part of your core IP
Having a proprietary systems as part of your core IP holds some benefits:
Competitive advantage
You may be targeting a niche market with a specific need. Or you uncovered a problem statement for end-users that one one else has addressed yet.
In these cases, custom obstacle detection or pallet detection could be a differentiator for your robot. It’ll have a unique technology that pre-built systems or competitors can’t provide.
Customization and control
Your system will be 100% aligned with your needs – no additional developing time necessary to fill in a gap left by the solution you purchased.
You also have more control over everything in the future. Updates, modifications, and integration with other systems all happen when and how you need them.
You need to reduce BoM (Bill of Materials) costs
Budget considerations can drive your decision to create your own detection solutions. If your BoM costs are a concern, here’s what to consider when choosing “Make” over “Buy”:
Purchasing costs
You might find a good solution off-the-shelf. But, its price tag may be prohibitive. This problem is especially common for start-ups or small companies with limited budgets:
Developing your own software or components may take a lot of time and resources. But, they’ll have less of an impact on your BoM costs in the long run.
Economies of scale
If the “Buy” cost seems too large initially, remember that it will affect your price point even more as you move into large-scale production. The per-unit cost with that addition to the BoM cost could mean your robot is too expensive for potential clients.
How important is BoM cost, really?
With our years of experience in robotics, sensors, automation, and 3D cameras, we’re confident that reducing BoM costs for autonomous robots really isn’t that big of a concern any more.
With price tags in the five or six figures, reducing the cost per unit by a few hundred dollars really doesn’t make a difference. Instead, increasing efficiency is the best place to add value.
When four of your robots can do the work that used to require five units, your client can spend tens of thousands of dollars less with a smaller fleet from you versus a larger order from a competitor.
That’s a much bigger difference than saving a few hundred dollars with slightly lower BoM costs. However, that’s not always feasible for any number of reasons, especially for a startup.
There’s no good off-the-shelf option to purchase
What if there’s simply no good hardware or software available to solve your problem statement? In that case, the choice to make your own seems obvious.
You may have advanced features or capabilities in mind that an off-the-shelf solution won’t offer. Third-party solutions also may not be flexible enough to integrate without additional programming or components.
Checklist: What you need to consider when making your own ODS or PDS solution
Convinced that making your own solution is the way to go? Here are the factors and action items you need to consider and implement before getting started:
-
Resource allocation: Ensure that your team has the expertise and resources. In-house development requires skilled personnel, time, and financial investment.
-
Long-term support: Consider maintenance, updates, and scalability of the technology.
-
Quality assurance: A less expensive in-house solution should not compromise the overall performance and safety of the robot.
-
Investment vs. Return: Ensure that the cost reduction in the BoM doesn't lead to higher expenses in other areas like R&D or post-sale support.
-
Market research: Conduct thorough market research to confirm there’s really no better solution on the market .
-
Partnerships and collaborations: You may be able to speed up development and come in under budget by combining external expertise with your in-house capabilities.
<< When is "Buy" better than "Make?" | Increase your mobile robot's ROI >>
Gain a competitive edge
Ready to learn more about accelerating your robot development?
Fill out our form or contact Tim McCarver directly at tim.mccarver@ifm.com.