Challenges and Limitations of Warehouse Drones

This technical report outlines the challenges and limitations associated with the use of drones for automated cycle counting in warehouses. It describes how traditional methods of inventory counting involve the use of forklift platforms to reach high storage bays, which can be dangerous and inefficient. The report details the introduction of warehouse drones by Vimaan, specifically the StorTRACK Air model, intended to enhance inventory scanning processes. However, the report highlights several issues faced in practice, including the need for extensive prep-work to clear obstacles, limited battery life restricting operational time, and the requirement for regular human oversight during drone operations. Additionally, it discusses the drones' limited field of view and the inefficiencies that arise from their design, which only allows for scanning one item at a time. The report concludes with Vimaan's pivot to a new solution, StorTRACK, which aims to address these challenges by providing a more reliable inventory counting method.