Kiva Systems Uses SolidWorks Software to Revolutionize the Warehouse With Robots

The Woburn, Mass., company uses SolidWorks software to design the robots as well as to array computers, scanners, and laser pointers in worker “picking stations” configured specially for each client.

The Kiva Mobile Fulfillment System’s breakthrough new approach to order fulfillment improves productivity, speed, accuracy, and flexibility for customers like Staples Inc., Walgreen Co., and the online shoe store Zappos.com. Workers stand in one place while the products come to them on the orange robotic drive units. Pallets, cases, and orders are stored on inventory pods that are picked up and moved by the fleet. As a result, the product can go to any operator.

When the company launched three years ago, SolidWorks was Kiva’s CAD software of choice. “Our design challenges are obtaining high performance from our products at a reasonable cost,” said Brett Anderson, senior mechanical engineer. “SolidWorks is the right software for the job. It simplifies custom configurations of any part or assembly, not to mention initial part design, and many of our vendors use SolidWorks themselves. SolidWorks’ COSMOSWorks® design validation software helps us optimize designs for strength and material economy on many of these designs, including the robotic drive unit. SolidWorks’ PDMWorks® data management software helps us manage revisions, and its eDrawings® collaboration software helps us streamline communication of ideas with engineering colleagues, marketers, and clients. SolidWorks software has the right level of power, ease of use, flexibility and value, add-ins, and support.”

SolidWorks software was instrumental in helping Anderson’s team develop a revolutionary lift mechanism for the robotic drive unit that has meant a long-term intellectual property advantage for the company. Based on a helical ball bearing, the Kiva robot rises and falls as it spins, stopping itself at the right height for grabbing shelf units it will carry to a picking station, where workers collect and box goods for shipping. Kiva manufacturing workers also use SolidWorks software to manage bills of materials when engineering changes occur.

“Kiva vividly illustrates how the most exciting companies are using the most effective tools to develop a better way of accomplishing something that’s been done the same way for decades,” said Rainer Gawlick, vice president of worldwide marketing for SolidWorks Corporation. “Innovation and the execution of spectacular ideas will distinguish companies from their competitors, and the world will flock to them.”

Kiva Systems uses authorized SolidWorks reseller CADD Edge for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.