Lift trucks a sci-fi buff would love

What happens when you cross a lift truck with a robot? You get some pretty creative vehicles that operate autonomously—which allows operators to spend less time driving and more time picking orders. Here are some examples worthy of a science fiction novel:

• Kollmorgen's Pick-n-Go system enables lift trucks to tag along with an order picker. Users install a "vehicle automation kit" on a truck of any make and then connect the vehicle to a WMS and a voice picking solution. When a picker confirms that an item has been picked, the driverless truck moves on to the next order-line location and the picker follows. When the pallet is almost full, the WMS sends a new forklift with an empty pallet to the picker; meanwhile, the truck with the full pallet returns unaccompanied to the loading area.
• Egemin Automation's Hybrid Automated Guided Vehicle lets users operate a standard forklift either in manual mode or as an AGV. At any time, a driver can interrupt the automatic operations, take over the controls, and then return the truck to fully automatic laser-guided mode as needed. Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) is the primary supplier of components for the system.
• LaserTrucks+ applies Dematic's wireless RF or voice picking software and AGV guidance technology to a Crown PC 4500 Series rider pallet truck. Once a worker confirms a pick, the pallet truck moves to the next location simultaneously with the picker. Activities like retrieving a new pallet, driving a pallet mover in the pick aisle, or transporting a completed pallet to shipping can be completely automated.
• With Crown Equipment Corp.'s QuickPick Remote Advance System, a picker can move a pallet truck forward without having to return to the operator's compartment. To advance the truck to the next pick slot, the driver presses a button on a wireless transceiver-equipped glove or a trigger worn across two fingers. The trucks have obstacle-detection and steering-correction systems to prevent collisions. The technology is currently available for the Crown PC 4500 Series rider pallet truck.

Developers of these systems are hoping they'll be competitive with pricy robots and AGVs. If not, perhaps they could hire them out for the next "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" film.