An autonomous inventory management system designed to operate continuously in freezer environments that range from -20° F to ambient temperatures has been developed by Corvus Robotics, a provider of physical AI robotic systems.
According to its developers, the Corvus One for Cold Chain has been created to withstand extreme cold, airflow, frost and condensation to deliver frequent, accurate inventory cycle counts without human intervention, thereby allowing operators to maintain real-time visibility while keeping labor and equipment from harsh freezer conditions.
Source: Corvus Robotics
“Operating autonomous aerial systems continuously in freezer environments is an engineering challenge most robotics platforms were never designed to handle. Corvus One for Cold Chain required re-architecting thermal management, sensing, flight stability, and onboard perception so the system could maintain autonomy and accuracy despite frost, glare, airflow, and extreme temperature swings. The result is a system that performs reliably in environments that have historically defeated automation,” the company explained.
Capable of maintaining full flight and scanning performance in sub-zero conditions via industrial-grade barcode scanners, the Corvus One for Cold Chain adapts to each environment to maintain barcode readability despite frost or glare.
Further, Corvus One for Cold Chain is designed to automate inventory management in freezer environments by delivering frequent, autonomous cycle counts that keep inventory data up to date, improve visibility into pallet locations and dwell time, and reduce write-offs while optimizing space. The system also reduces labor costs and improves worker safety by operating autonomously in temperatures as low as -20° F, thus removing the need for staff to enter freezer aisles for routine counts. In addition, the system reliably captures barcodes in sub-zero conditions using industrial-grade scanners and stabilized flight to overcome ice, condensation, glare and damaged labels.
For more on the Corvus One for Cold Chain, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of Corvus Robotics.
