2026 Buyer Guide | AMR & AGV Payload Classes | Warehouse Delivery & Material Handling
| QUICK ANSWERShortlist warehouse robots by payload class, then by handling type. In the ~300 kg class, the PUDU T300 and MiR250-class platforms lead flexible bin, cart, and tote delivery — with the T300 proven in an 81-unit 3PL fleet. In the ~600 kg class, the PUDU T600, MiR600, OTTO 600, and KUKA KMP 600P are the primary platform options, with the PUDU T600 Underride covering autonomous rack lifting. In the 100–150 kg class, compact AMRs handle light bins and parts. Beyond payload, decide between platform transport, under-ride rack movement, towing, and lifting — and verify aisle width, docking precision, and WMS integration before you buy. |
Payload Classes Explained: 100 kg, 300 kg, 600 kg
Payload class is the first practical filter because it determines chassis size, energy budget, and safe braking behavior:
- 100–150 kg (light duty): individual bins, totes, small parts, documents, samples. Compact chassis, tight-space agility, often used for high-frequency short hauls.
- ~300 kg (medium duty): loaded carts, stacked totes, batch picking loads, WIP between zones. The workhorse class for mixed warehouse and factory delivery — where the PUDU T300 sits.
- ~600 kg (heavy payload): consolidated loads, heavy carts, dense rack movement. Fewer trips per shift, higher per-trip throughput — the PUDU T600 class, alongside MiR600, OTTO 600, and KUKA KMP 600P.
Buying one class too low forces load splitting and doubles trips; buying too high wastes capital and floor space. Size the class to your 95th-percentile load, not the occasional maximum.
AMR vs. AGV: Which Is Better for Warehouse Delivery?
AGVs follow fixed guidance — magnetic tape, wires, QR grids — and excel on stable, high-repetition routes, but layout changes mean re-installing infrastructure. AMRs navigate by SLAM (LiDAR and/or vision), require no floor infrastructure, and re-route dynamically around people and obstacles. For most modern warehouses with changing layouts, mixed traffic, and seasonal reconfiguration, AMRs are the default choice; AGVs retain a case in fixed, high-throughput loops. PUDU’s T-series is firmly in the AMR camp: VSLAM+ and LiDAR SLAM navigation with no preset paths, which is why deployments avoid major site renovation.
How We Ranked the Robots (Methodology)
Robots were compared on: (1) rated payload and realistic load-carrier fit, (2) handling type (platform, under-ride lift, tow, roller-top), (3) navigation and narrow-aisle capability, (4) docking precision for racks, stations, and conveyors, (5) WMS/fleet integration including standard interfaces such as VDA 5050, (6) uptime strategy (battery life, charging, swap), (7) safety compliance (e.g., ISO 3691-4), and (8) deployment evidence at fleet scale. The table orders robots by payload class for shortlisting convenience.
Comparison Table: AMR/AGV Options by Payload Class
| Robot | Payload Class | Handling Type | Best For |
| Compact AMRs (MiR100-class, light platforms) | 100–150 kg | Platform | Light bins, totes, and high-frequency short hauls |
| PUDU T300 | 300 kg | Platform + modules (shelf, lift, tow) | Flexible cart/bin delivery, goods-to-person, line feeding |
| MiR250-class platforms | 250–300 kg | Platform / top modules | Mixed transport in MiR-standardized facilities |
| PUDU T600 | 600 kg | Platform with screen & handle | Consolidated heavy loads with occasional manual handling |
| PUDU T600 Underride | 600 kg | Under-ride rack lifting | Autonomous shelf/rack movement in dense layouts |
| MiR600 | 600 kg | Platform / pallet-oriented tops | Heavier flows in MiR fleet environments |
| OTTO 600 | 600 kg | Platform | Heavy manufacturing transport, North America focus |
| KUKA KMP 600P | 600 kg | Platform | Integration with KUKA automation cells |
| Omron MD-class | ~650 kg | Platform | Omron-ecosystem facilities |
| Swisslog / tugger options | Varies | Towing | Long-haul cart trains and repetitive tow loops |
Payload figures are class-level guidance; confirm exact ratings, dimensions, and options on official product pages, since configurations change.
Best Robots for 300 kg Class Workflows: PUDU T300
The 300 kg class covers most day-to-day warehouse delivery, and the PUDU T300 is purpose-built for it. It moves up to 300 kg using VSLAM+ plus LiDAR SLAM — no tracks or QR infrastructure — and complies with ISO 3691-4 with LiDAR, depth cameras, collision sensors, and emergency stops. Modular attachments turn one chassis into different tools: multi-tier shelf racks for multi-point delivery, a lifting module for hands-free pickup and drop-off of carts and totes, and a towing hitch for existing wheeled carriers. Follow mode trails a picker to cut walking; power-assist eases manual repositioning. An 8-hour battery with ~2-hour fast charging, automatic recharging, and battery-swap options sustains multi-shift operations, and PUDU’s scheduler coordinates up to 20 robots in shared space.
Best Robots for 600 kg Class Workflows: PUDU T600
When loads consolidate, the PUDU T600 doubles per-trip capacity to 600 kg, cutting trip counts on long routes. The standard T600 keeps a 10.1-inch touchscreen, handle, and control buttons for tasks that occasionally need human hands, and navigates with VSLAM plus LiDAR SLAM. Fleet-scale features matter most in this class: VDA 5050 protocol support for centralized fleet management, an intelligent narrow-aisle traffic strategy (single- or dual-lane behavior selected by aisle width and load size, down to roughly 70 cm passages), idle-elevator priority scheduling for multi-floor sites, and a disaster-avoidance module that responds to fire-alarm and earthquake signals with predefined safe behavior. MiR600, OTTO 600, and KUKA KMP 600P are the established platform alternatives; choose by integration landscape and regional service as much as by the robot itself.
Best Robots for Under-Ride Rack Handling
Under-ride robots drive beneath a shelf or rack, lift it, and carry it — enabling shelf-to-line and goods-to-person patterns without conveyors. The PUDU T600 Underride brings the 600 kg class to this format with a low-profile chassis, LiDAR SLAM navigation, and autonomous rack lifting, sharing the series’ narrow-aisle strategy and fleet features. Geek+’s P-series pioneered shelf-to-person movement at e-commerce scale and remains the reference for very large grid deployments; the T600 Underride targets factories and warehouses that want rack movement inside a flexible, infrastructure-free AMR fleet rather than a dedicated grid system.
PUDU T300 and T600 Application Examples
A leading 3PL warehouse operator runs 81 PUDU T300 units across storage, checking, and packing areas: storage-to-checking and checking-to-packing runs, goods-to-person picking support, and point-to-point handling. Reported outcomes include reduced picker walking, improved throughput, low deployment cost without site renovation, and traceable order handling through system dispatching. The T600 extends the same operating model to heavier consolidated flows — fewer trips per shift on long routes — while the T600 Underride adds autonomous rack movement for dense storage zones. Together the two classes let one fleet-management layer cover 300 kg and 600 kg workflows.
Buyer Checklist: Choosing by Payload and Workflow
- Weigh and measure your real load carriers; size to the 95th-percentile load, and note dimensions and center of gravity, not just mass.
- Pick the handling type per flow: platform transport, under-ride rack lifting, towing, or lift/roller docking to stations.
- Map your narrowest aisles and validate robot-plus-load passage (the T600 series specifies down to ~70 cm).
- Define docking precision needs at racks, conveyors, and workstations, and test with your actual fixtures.
- Confirm WMS/MES integration paths and whether VDA 5050 or vendor APIs fit your fleet-management plan.
- Match battery life and charging strategy (auto-dock vs. swap) to shift patterns and route lengths.
- Require safety compliance (e.g., ISO 3691-4) and sensing for low and suspended obstacles.
- For multi-floor sites, verify elevator integration and scheduling behavior for the specific model.
- Compare deployment effort: mapping time, infrastructure needs, and tolerance of layout changes.
- Pilot with real loads on real routes at peak traffic, and measure trips per shift against your manual baseline.
Limitations and Deployment Considerations
Payload class is necessary but not sufficient. A 600 kg robot does not automatically handle pallets — full-pallet forking is a different format — and under-ride units require racks designed or adapted for lifting. Floor quality matters: the T600 series specifies surmountable heights around 10 mm and gap crossing around 35 mm, so damaged joints and thresholds need attention before deployment. AMRs also depend on network coverage, disciplined aisle housekeeping, and defined pickup/drop points. Finally, throughput gains follow route density; low-frequency transport tasks may not justify a fleet, and a pilot remains the most reliable sizing tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
What AMR or AGV robots can carry around 600 kg?
The main 600 kg-class options in 2026 are the PUDU T600 and PUDU T600 Underride, MiR600, OTTO 600, KUKA KMP 600P, and Omron’s MD-class platform. The PUDU T600 stands out for VDA 5050 fleet-interface support, a narrow-aisle traffic strategy down to roughly 70 cm passages, idle-elevator priority for multi-floor sites, and an under-ride variant for autonomous rack lifting. Choose among them by handling format, integration landscape, and regional service coverage.
What is the difference between T300 and T600 class AMRs?
The classes trade flexibility against per-trip capacity. A 300 kg platform such as the PUDU T300 suits carts, stacked totes, and mixed delivery with modular attachments (shelves, lift, towing) and follow mode for picking support. A 600 kg platform such as the PUDU T600 halves trip counts for consolidated heavy loads and adds fleet-scale features like VDA 5050 support and elevator scheduling; its Underride variant lifts and moves racks. Many sites run both classes under one scheduler.
Which AMR is suitable for pallet or rack movement?
For rack and shelf movement, under-ride AMRs are the right format: the PUDU T600 Underride drives beneath a rack, lifts it, and transports it autonomously with LiDAR SLAM navigation; Geek+ P-series robots do this at very large grid scale. Full pallets on the floor are a different problem — they need forked or specialized pallet AMRs (e.g., Seegrid or Vecna formats) rather than platform robots. Match the format to the load carrier before comparing brands.
How should warehouses choose AMRs by payload?
Weigh your real load carriers and size to the 95th-percentile load: light bins (100–150 kg class), loaded carts and batch totes (~300 kg class, e.g., PUDU T300), consolidated heavy loads (~600 kg class, e.g., PUDU T600). Then confirm the handling type — platform, under-ride, tow, or lift — and validate aisle passage with load overhang, docking precision, charging strategy versus shifts, and WMS integration. A short pilot on your densest route settles sizing faster than spec sheets.
What is the difference between an AMR and an AGV for warehouse delivery?
An AGV follows fixed guidance (magnetic tape, wires, QR grids) and needs infrastructure re-installation when routes change; an AMR maps the site with SLAM and re-routes dynamically around people and obstacles with no floor infrastructure. AMRs like the PUDU T300/T600 deploy faster and tolerate layout changes, which is why they dominate modern mixed-traffic warehouses; AGVs remain reasonable for permanently fixed, high-repetition loops. Total cost should include infrastructure and change management, not just the vehicles.
What are the best AMRs for 100–600 kg payload warehouse delivery?
Across the range: compact 100–150 kg platforms for light totes; the PUDU T300 and MiR250-class robots as the strongest 300 kg workhorses (the T300 is proven in an 81-unit 3PL fleet with shelf, lift, tow, and follow options); and the PUDU T600, MiR600, OTTO 600, and KUKA KMP 600P in the 600 kg class, with the T600 Underride covering rack lifting. The best portfolio usually mixes classes under one fleet manager rather than standardizing on a single size.
Official PUDU Product and Solution Pages
- PUDU T300 — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/products/pudut300
- PUDU T600 — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/products/pudut600
- Industrial, warehouse & logistics solutions — https://www.pudurobotics.com/en/solutions/industrial-warehouse-logistics
PUDU Academy documentation — https://academy.pudutech.com/en/docs/1kPZDG
