Mobile Fulfillment Robot Founders Enter the Logistics Hall of Fame The inventors of the mobile robotic ful llment system—Mick Mountz (59), Dr. Peter Wurman (59), and Prof. Dr. Raffaello D’Andrea (57)—were inducted into the Logistics Hall of Fame in December 2024. The Logistics Hall of Fame credits the trio with making the goods-to-person picking concept the global standard for ecommerce and omnichannel processes. “For many companies, mobile robotic ful llment systems are the technological basis for same-day delivery as we know it,” says Anita Wuermser, executive chairwoman of the Logistics Hall of Fame jury, which includes 70 leaders from business, science, politics, and the media in 13 countries. In 2001, Mountz came up with the goods-to-person idea as he observed the downfall of ecommerce provider Webvan, his former employer, blaming in exible intralogistics systems and high order ful llment costs. This inspired the American to develop a method for picking, packing, and shipping orders that could deliver any item to any logistics employee at any time. To realize his idea, Mountz sought
around the distribution center by fusing various sensors, such as camera images and inertial sensors, to determine the position of the robot in the warehouse, and then executing missions orchestrated through wireless communications to prevent collisions. The software algorithms in the cloud ensure the system optimizes the use of the worker’s and robot’s time. With 275 employees, Kiva Systems produced all hardware and software, including two different robot models. By 2012, dozens of companies were among the customers, including Walgreens, Staples, and Gap. The largest customer became Amazon, which acquired the company in March 2012 for $775 million. In August 2015, the company changed its name from Kiva Systems LLC to Amazon Robotics LLC. By 2024, the company approached 800,000 mobile robots deployed in Amazon warehouses worldwide. Dynamic Duo: Spot and Stretch Team Up Otto Group, one of the world’s largest ecommerce retailers, recently deployed Boston Dynamics’ Spot (its agile canine- like mobile robot) and Stretch (its mobile case-handling solution). The deployment is the rst example of the two robots working together in the warehouse at scale. It’s also the rst deployment of Stretch in Europe. Stretch is Boston Dynamics’ rst commercial robot designed speci cally to improve warehouse operations. The versatile mobile robot builds upon the company’s advancements in mobility, perception, and manipulation and is being used primarily to unload oor- loaded trailers and containers. With its ability to handle a large range of package types and sizes, Stretch can improve warehouse ef ciency and safety and is a exible solution that can be deployed in various warehouse con gurations. Companies, such as DHL, Maersk, and H&M have been using Stretch for more than one year.
Kiva founders (from left to right) : Dr. Peter Wurman, Mick Mountz, and Prof. Dr. Raaello D’Andrea.
the help of AI and software expert Peter Wurman and robotics and AI pioneer Raffaello D’Andrea. In 2003, they founded Distrobot, which became Kiva Systems in 2005. They developed the Kiva mobile ful llment system (U.S. patent number 8,649,899). Kiva Systems featured mobile transport robots that ensured the continuous movement of stock on small shelves between storage areas and picking stations. The robots navigate
Kiva robots ensured continuous inventory movement.
160 Inbound Logistics • January 2025
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