New Orbit Users can do more with Spot, with the recent upgrades to Boston Dynamics’ robot fleet management software Orbit : Multi docking – enables sites to maximize Spot’s inspection time since the robot is no longer confined to one docking location Alert triaging – lets sites surface critical issues where assets require attention and group, triage, and dismiss alerts in a single click Faster deployment – updates to authoring workflows to streamline deployment Cloud availability – available in Australia, Brazil, EU, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and North America (previously the United States only)
Boston Dynamics’ Spot (above, left) and Stretch ( above, right). Stretch unloads boxes for 3PL Arvato ( right ).
Boston Dynamics also launched new capabilities for Spot and Orbit , the company’s robot eet management software (see sidebar) . More than 1,500 Spot robots are deployed globally. The latest 4.1 release adds acoustic vibration sensing, reality capture, and capabilities to make managing data missions easier. These hardware and systems improvements allow Spot to meet the demands of dynamic, complex facilities. Stretch Helps 3PL Arvato Unload Efficiencies Stretch has also found employment at third-party logistics provider Arvato’s logistics campus in Louisville, Kentucky. Arvato uses Stretch to unload a wide variety of loose-loaded boxes from containers. By implementing its rst two Stretch
robots, Arvato completed the process chain for a fully automated goods receiving process—including smart data capturing, robotic palletizing, and pallet transports by AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). The challenge for the provider was nding a solution that could gently handle the cartons and manage variability. Enter Stretch. The mobile robots are entirely self-contained, requiring no power or air lines for operation. This mobility reduces infrastructure costs and training time for Arvato’s employees. The system utilizes a vision system to detect the front of all boxes in a container. The robot then makes decisions in real time on which box or boxes to pick and how to do so. The single robotic arm is equipped with a gripper at the end consisting of several rows of suction
cups, allowing it to grab boxes from various angles. It then carefully places the boxes on a conveyor belt that will carry it further into the warehouse. The multipicking feature allows higher throughputs, especially with smaller, lighter cartons. It can also multipick some of the heavier cartons. It can handle packages of various sizes weighing up to 50 pounds, and work continuously for up to 16 hours. “Seasonal planning is critical to Arvato operations,” says Rachael Miller, senior director of operations at Arvato’s Louisville campus. “There are often unknowns in the supply chain. With Stretch being very consistent on its unload rate, we can plan additional capacities where we need them. “We can also plan for off hours where we may not have a scheduled shift in place, with just one operator putting Stretch into a truck,” she adds.
162 Inbound Logistics • January 2025
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