Boston Dynamics, the maker of Spot the robotic dog, is partnering with Otto Motors, a maker of autonomous warehouse robots, to further develop warehouse logistics automation.
Through the partnership, Boston Dynamics’ logistics robot, called Handle, will pick up boxes and build pallets on top of Otto’s autonomous mobile robots in distribution centers. Concept trials with customers in warehouses were held last year and now Boston Dynamics is working with Otto to further automate the logistics space.
“We’ve built a proof of concept demonstration of a heterogeneous fleet of robots building distribution center orders to provide a more flexible warehouse automation solution,” said Kevin Blankespoor, vice president of product engineering at Boston Dynamics. “To meet the rates that our customers expect, we’re continuing to expand Handle’s capabilities and optimizing its interactions with other robots like the Otto 1500 for warehouse applications.”
Boston Dynamics said it plans to integrate its box detection software and its computer vision system will be integrated into industrial robotic work cells at future sites around the world.
The two companies will demo the new system for warehouse and distribution centers at the upcoming Modex trade show for supply chain, manufacturing and distribution automation, taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, March 9-12.
