The Story of MHS Global on Industries of the Future

Kristiyan Georgiev has seen the world of robotics change drastically since he was first in school learning about computer vision, chasing his childhood fascination for robotics. Now he works in Louisville, Kentucky at MHS Global: a material handling company that provides actionable solutions to solve distribution and fulfillment challenges. As the Leader of their Computer Vision Team, Kristiyan and his peers have developed robotic singulation systems using computer vision, 3D cameras, and artificial intelligence (AI). Using machine learning, they can directly train their computer to recognize an ever-growing library of images.

Given the current labor shortage and high demands on a tenuous supply chain, companies are looking for any and every opportunity to fill their needs and maintain the high speeds that their customers often expect of them.

With a neural network that can identify and count objects in its camera’s radius, the MHS processor can then either speed up or slow down their conveyor system based on current demand, which can help reduce power usage and extend the life of the machine.

“As now I’m part of a company that creates automation, we still need a person to maintain the robot,” explains Kristiyan after admitting his initial concerns over claims that robotics and automations could take job opportunities away from human beings. “The low-skilled laborer will have an opportunity to become a high-skill laborer, which actually pays more.”

Kristiyan and his team also work regularly with graduate and undergraduate students from the University of Louisville, in a partnership program which allows young people to see and experience real-life problems in the field. “It really bridges the gap between what is being taught in school, and what are the skill sets required after school,” Kristiyan points out. It’s a great way to expose not only the students to new and emerging technologies, but also the University–– which can then develop new curriculums and courses based on those new machines or computer programs.

“My industry of the future is material handling, and creating a facility that we call Lights-Out. Parcels would come in, they’ll sort, there will be no people working inside–– or, the people that will work inside? They’ll maintain robots.”

Industries of the Future is a monthly series of short documentary videos presented by Schneider Electric. We dive deep into the nuts and bolts of different warehouses, manufacturers, and supply chain facilitators to learn about what they are working on to bring about Industries of the Future.

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