Logistics Robots Meet E-Commerce Demands

The pandemic has driven e-commerce companies to automate their warehouses to meet the increasing demands of online shoppers. Before the pandemic, however, many tried to catch up to the advances of Amazon and Chinese competitors like Alibaba. Walmart, Shopify, Kroger, and Target are just a handful of names that have leveraged warehouse robots to revamp their warehouses for automated fulfillment. Startups are taking advantage of this shift in automation and here are some leaders.

• Boston Dynamics has had its list of A-list owners (Google, Softbank, and most recently Hyundai) as well as publicity stunts with its task-performing dog robots. Its latest shift in business tactics focuses on warehouse automation, as demonstrated by its new robot “Stretch” that can load and unload boxes onto trucks, conveyor belts, and shelves.
• Berkshire Grey develops robotic picking technology as well as AI systems and cloud software for warehouses and distribution centers. In February, the company announced intentions to go public via SPAC with Revolution Acceleration Acquisition Corp.
• Haddington Dynamics and Kindred Systems are both US-based startups, recently acquired by the UK’s version of Instacart, Ocado Group. Ocado Solutions, a unit within Ocado Group, is specifically developing technology for sorting huge volumes of groceries. Haddington Dynamics specializes in robotic arms development, while Kindred Systems develops picking and packing robots.
• 6 River Systems has developed a trolley robot system called “Chuck” that helps workers move and stack items on the warehouse floor. The company was acquired in 2019 by Shopify to compete against Amazon.