Data Center

A server rack is a standardised enclosure and mounting system that holds IT equipment such as servers, network and storage systems. Depending on the infrastructure, data centers use different rack standards, including ORv2 and ORv3 from the Open Compute Project as well as HPR and ORW (Open Rack Wide). As power density rises, rack weight and the demands on internal logistics rise with it.

White space is the area of a data center that houses the actual IT infrastructure – server racks, network and storage systems. It is designed for high packing density, which leaves only limited room to manoeuvre between the rows. Automated transport has to work precisely and repeatably in exactly that space, usually with no option to adjust a rack by hand.

A cold aisle is the aisle between two rack rows that supplies the racks with cold air. It is kept deliberately narrow so cooling performance is not lost, and cold aisle containment encloses it further. For transport that means turning manoeuvres and manual corrections are barely possible, so compact vehicle dimensions and precise navigation are prerequisites.

A hyperscale data center is a facility built and run at very large scale, usually by a single operator, with standardised, highly dense racks and continuous expansion. Hyperscale sites frequently use ORW racks (Open Rack Wide), which are wider and heavier than ORv2 or ORv3. DS Automotion developed the RACKMOVER, a heavy-duty AGV, specifically for this rack format.

Enterprise data centers, colocation sites and hyperscale facilities where server racks are regularly installed, replaced or serviced. What matters is not the size of the site but how often racks are moved and which rack standard is in use – ORv2, ORv3, HPR or ORW.

Because transport tasks there are repetitive, run under strict safety requirements and often continue around the clock. Automated transport can be standardised and executed repeatably, is independent of short-term staffing gaps and reduces manual handling of valuable, sensitive IT hardware. It also relieves staff of heavy and bulky moves, freeing time for installation, maintenance and service.

Most often during a build-out, an expansion, a consolidation or a hardware refresh. During new builds and capacity planning the decision is made while routes, transfer positions and floor space can still be shaped. Expansions, consolidations and hardware refreshes move many racks in a short time – exactly the recurring peaks that automation absorbs.

Server racks first, and also spare parts, IT components and other operating materials. Typical routes run from the loading dock via staging areas into the white space and back out – for server rack installation, maintenance, hardware replacement and removal. The right vehicle depends on the load, its weight and dimensions, the travel routes and the spatial conditions on site.

DS Automotion develops and builds automated guided vehicles (AGV) and mobile robots for intralogistics and has worked in this field for more than 40 years. For data centers it offers two rack-specific vehicles, AMADEUS rack and RACKMOVER, alongside custom-engineered solutions. Its NAVIOS fleet manager supports VDA 5050, so compatible vehicles from other manufacturers can join the same fleet.