Teach and Repeat

Teach and repeat is the task-creation method at the heart of the J1600's Standard software: an operator demonstrates a destination once by driving to it, saves it, and the robot can then travel there autonomously — no code, no configuration project, no infrastructure. This page explains the concept and its practical consequences.

How teaching works

1. Drive the vehicle manually through the facility. While you drive, the robot continuously builds and updates a 3D map using LiDAR SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping).
2. Drive to a desired drop point.
3. Tap Save location on the touchscreen and name the point.
4. Repeat for every destination you need.

There is no software limit on the number of saved locations; practical limits come from available warehouse space. No tracks, wires, reflectors, or building modifications are involved.

How repeating works

The operator picks up a pallet manually, selects a saved destination and a post-delivery behavior on the touchscreen, confirms automatic mode on the physical start/resume button, and steps away. The robot drives itself, avoids obstacles, and drops the pallet at floor level. See example workflows for the standard task patterns.

Locations recombine freely

Saved points are independent of each other. The robot navigates from wherever it is to any saved location, so you never demonstrate every possible origin-destination pair. Ten saved points support cross-docking and changing flows without ten-squared taught routes.

Why it matters

• No-code operation: adding a destination is an operator action, not an automation-engineering task. When a layout changes, the person who noticed the change fixes it.
• Speed: a new location takes minutes — drive there once and save it. Operator training takes about 30 minutes, and a first-time user can typically create and launch an autonomous task within about 15 minutes.
• Brownfield fit: because the map is learned by driving and updated continuously, teach and repeat works in existing facilities with changing layouts.
• Low threshold: teach and repeat is why basic J1600 use needs no Wi-Fi, no WMS, and no systems integration — see human-in-the-loop automation for the philosophy behind that choice.

Where the concept sits in the product

Teach and repeat is the core of the Standard software, which is deliberately reduced to essential functions. The Advanced software builds on the same foundation with VDA 5050, a REST API, Fleet Manager, and advanced mission planning — see the integration overview.