Thouzer Follow Me Robot
Meet the World's Easiest Follow-Me Robot Cart
The Thouzer Follow-Me Robot helps teams move pallets, carts, trolleys, and more through manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, and healthcare environments without redesigning your workflow.
Most demos begin with a short discovery call so JLC can understand your application and tailor the demo to your workflow.
ProvenIn factories, warehouses, and hospitals all over the world
ProvenIn factories, warehouses, and hospitals all over the world
What It Is
What is a Follow-Me Robot?
A Follow-Me robot is a mobile robot that follows an operator while carrying or towing materials. Instead of completely automating your processes, Thouzer complements and improves the manual movement work your team is already doing.
For many companies, the immediate problem is not that every route needs to be fully automated. The problem is workers spend too much time and energy pushing, pulling, and walking materials around your facility.
Thouzer Follow-Me helps turbocharge your existing manual material handling process by giving workers a robot cart that lets them move more material in less time with much less effort, using the same carts and dollies they're already using every single day.
When Does Follow-Me Make Sense?
- Use it when your environment is highly chaotic and full automation is a challenge
- Use it when a person still needs to lead the process.
- Use it when workers need help moving heavier loads.
- Use it when you want test mobile robots in your facility before fully automating processes.
Follow-Me is valuable when you need a practical way to help workers move more material with less effort, while keeping your existing process familiar and flexible.
Why Teams Use It
Automation Doesn't Have to be a Huge Pain in the You-Know-What
Fast Start
Deploy in minutes, not days or weeks.
When we say you can start using this robot in minutes, we're not exaggerating. Watch the video below if you don't believe me!
When we say you can start using this robot in minutes, we're not exaggerating. Watch the video to the right if you don't believe me!
Follow-Me mode was designed to help your team start moving materials almost immediately. That makes Thouzer a strong fit when you need to improve a process quickly without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more!) on a costly integration project.
- No route mapping required
- No wearable tracker or beacon required
- No major workflow redesign required
- No complex commissioning required
Click/tap the image above to play the unboxing video
Want to see how quickly Follow Me could work in your facility?
Click the orange button below to schedule a demo and see exactly how Thouzer works. Before each demo, we'll have a short discovery call to make sure we have the right equipment ready for your demo - right robot, right towing equipment, etc.
In the video above, you can see how easily Thouzer follows its operator around a busy office. Even with additional obstacles placed in Thouzer's way, this follow me robot stays right there with you!
How It Works
LiDAR-based Target Tracking Eliminates the Need for Beacons or Special Fobs.
Thouzer uses LiDAR-based target tracking to follow its target around your facility while actively avoiding obstacles. Thouzer's Follow-me target can be a person, forklift, tugger, or even another robot.
How to Use Thouzer Follow-Me
Press the Follow Me Button
Stand in front of Thouzer and press the red Follow Me button.
Wait for Thouzer to Lock On
Within a second or so, you'll hear Thouzer begin to play music, which indicates it's locked on to its target.
Start Walking!
Now wherever you go, Thouzer will follow you. If you'd like Thouzer to follow something else - a forklift, tugger, carts, or another Thouzer, you can do that too.
Stop in Seconds
To disable Follow-Me, press the Follow Me button again or move the joystick. You'll hear Thouzer's music stop and return to idle mode. It's that easy!
Safety
Built for safer worker-led material movement.
Thouzer is designed against ISO 3691-4 and has multiple safety features that support worker-led movement, while JLC helps customers deploy the robot appropriately for the application.
Active Avoidance
In Follow-Me mode, Thouzer actively avoids objects that attempt to come between the robot and the operator.
LiDAR Obstacle Detection
Thouzer uses LiDAR-based sensing to detect and respond to obstacles during Follow Me operation.
Safety Bumper
Thouzer includes safety features such as an emergency stop button, safety bumper, and audible status or alert sounds.
E-Stop Buttons
Thouzer includes at least one E-Stop button on every robot, allowing anyone to halt the robot's movement at any time.
Alarm Device
In Follow-Me mode, Thouzer plays music at 87dB to let everyone know a robot is operating nearby. (Yes, you can change the music it plays)
And more!
You can customize Thouzer to meet the needs of your facility. Add blue lights, an Andon stack light or many other types of safety devices.
Safe deployment is a shared responsibility.
Thouzer is designed as a safe robot and JLC helps customers deploy it in a safe and appropriate way, but customers are responsible for ongoing safe operation, training, supervision, and day-to-day use after deployment.
Applications
Follow-Me applications across manufacturing, warehousing, 3PL, and hospital logistics.
Thouzer Follow Me is flexible enough to support several worker-led material handling workflows without requiring a fixed route or a fully automated process.
Bolt-On Material Movement
Move more with the equipment you already use
Follow Me is most compelling when it complements your current process. Thouzer can help move materials using familiar equipment like pallets, carts, trolleys, and manual pallet jacks.
Pallet Movement
For companies who want a follow-me robot for pallet movement, JLC's pallet jack adapter allows you to connect standard manual pallet jacks to the robot, enhancing your existing process without having to redesign it from scratch.
Carts and Trolleys
If your team is looking for a follow-me cart to support order picking, put-away, staging, or internal transport, Thouzer can help workers move loads while staying close to the process they already know.
Carried Payloads
All Thouzers can carry materials directly on the robot platform. Customize the top structure to suit your needs.
Have a pallet, cart, trolley, or material movement application in mind?
JLC can help evaluate the right Thouzer model, payload approach, route, and Follow Me setup for your operation.
Model Fit
Choose the right Thouzer for your load
Follow Me is available across the entire Thouzer lineup, so use the table below to match your carrying and towing capacity to the appropriately-sized robot.
| Thouzer Model | Carrying Capacity | Towing Capacity | Best Fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thouzer Lite | 100 kg / 220 lb | Towing not allowed | Simple Follow-Me carrying applications |
| Thouzer Mini | 60 kg / 132 lb | 150 kg / 330 lb | Compact spaces and smaller loads |
| Thouzer Standard | 120 kg / 265 lb | 300 kg / 661 lb | General-purpose material movement |
| Thouzer Giant | 300 kg / 661 lb | 600+ kg / 1,322+ lb | Heavy-duty payloads and towing |
Actual towing capacity depends on configuration, load, cart or pallet jack setup, floor conditions, route, and application review. You do not need to know the exact Thouzer model before reaching out.
Unlike single-purpose follow-me robots, Thouzer is available in multiple sizes so JLC can match the robot to your payload, towing needs, form factor, and future automation goals.
Not sure which Thouzer fits your load?
JLC will help review your payload, towing needs, route, path width, floor conditions, and future automation goals.
Choose the Right Mode
Are You Considering Full Process Automation in the Future?
If so, then you might want to consider a robot that supports Memory Trace or Line Trace.
When Does Follow Me Make Sense?
Use Follow Me When;
- A worker still needs to lead the process
- The route changes or is not predictable enough for fixed automation
- You want a fast, simple improvement to an existing manual process
- You don't have in-house resources to maintain a more complex solution.
When Does Memory Trace Make Sense?
Use Memory Trace when:
- The route is repetitive enough to teach and repeat
- You want fully automated point-to-point material transport
- You want the robot to run without an operator leading it
- You need stronger labor savings from full process automation
- Your staff is already designing and supporting other automation solutions
Not sure whether Follow Me or full route automation creates the better ROI?
JLC can help determine whether Follow Me, Memory Trace, or Line Trace is the best fit for your material handling process. We'd be happy to talk through your project and help you figure things out.
Growth Path
Start with Follow Me. Automate more later.
The right Thouzer configuration can support your needs today while leaving room to grow into more advanced navigation modes later.
Many teams begin with Follow Me because it is simple, useful, and easy to understand. As your process matures, some routes may become good candidates for Memory Trace or Line Trace, allowing Thouzer to move from worker-led material handling into true process automation.
JLC helps customers choose a Thouzer design based on both today's Follow Me requirements and tomorrow's automation goals.
Sample Thouzer Growth Path
Follow Me
Worker-led movement for pallets, carts, trolleys, and materials.
Memory Trace
Teach-and-repeat route automation for repetitive material transport.
Custom Apps / Wireless Charging
For complex applications, Thouzer offers an open API, a Traffic Control Server, wireless charging, and more.
Application Fit
When Follow Me may not be the best fit.
Follow Me is excellent when a person still needs to lead the process. It may not be the best fit when your main goal is fully unattended material transport on a repeatable route.
If the process can be fully automated, Follow Me by itself may not create the strongest ROI. In those cases, JLC may recommend Memory Trace or Line Trace instead. The discovery call helps clarify the goal: improve worker-led movement, fully automate the transport route, or build a path from one to the other.
Real-World Proof
Proven in real-world material handling environments.
Thouzer robots have been used in demanding environments where material movement must remain flexible, practical, and easy for workers to understand.
U.S.-based Thouzer Installation and Support
JLC Robotics is your one-stop shop for Thouzer in the U.S.
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, JLC Robotics provides Thouzer sales, application review, training, implementation guidance, and post-sale support.
Thouzer is manufactured by Doog Inc. in Japan and supported in the U.S. by JLC Robotics. Our role is to help you determine whether Thouzer is a fit, choose the right model, understand the best navigation mode, and deploy the robot in a way that fits your facility and workflow.
- Application review for Follow Me, Memory Trace, and Line Trace
- Support choosing the right Thouzer model and configuration
- Payload, towing, cart, pallet jack, and route discussion
- Training and implementation guidance
- U.S.-based post-sale support from Cincinnati
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Thouzer Follow-Me
These frequently asked questions are specific to Thouzer's follow-me navigation. If you still have questions, please refer to our main Thouzer page, our main Thouzer FAQ page, or just contact us with the form below.