|
Listen to this article  |
Organization: Symbotic
Country: U.S.
Website: https://www.symbotic.com/
Year Founded: 2007
Number of Employees: 500+
Innovation Class: Application
Most warehouses are inefficient and inflexible, with limited or no automation. Many automated systems are fixed capital assets that can’t easily adapt to dynamic business conditions.
The modular Symbotic system enables fully automated warehouses with robot-to-robot handoffs throughout. Robotic depalletizers remove cases from inbound pallets one layer at a time.
SymBot mobile robots, equipped with advanced computer vision, autonomously navigate a 10-level football-field-sized structure at speeds of over 20 mph, storing and retrieving cases and delivering them to outbound cells where robot palletizers with proprietary end-of-arm tools build pallets optimized for downstream nodes.
In 2023, Symbotic made several significant enhancements to the system, including adding cameras and advanced traction control to the SymBots, improved software that orchestrates and powers the system in both the palletization and routing algorithms, and the ability to learn from the up to 6 terabytes of data the system collects per day.
The company is currently selling its system to retailers, wholesalers, and grocers with large distribution operations. It said one client has over 5,000 stores that require daily replenishment. With the Symbotic system, the customer has reduced stock outs, increased the efficiency of store replenishment, and reduced operating costs by 5x.
Symbotic said it has over $24 billion in committed orders from some of the largest retailers, wholesalers, and grocers, including Walmart, Target, C&S Wholesalers, Albertsons, and others. Walmart is implementing the system in all 42 of their regional distribution centers.
Symbotic is empowering its customers to operate with unprecedented speed, efficiency, flexibility and accuracy. It helps customers transform their warehouses into a strategic asset with data-driven operations.
Explore the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024.
RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024
| Organization | Innovation |
|---|---|
| ABB Robotics | Modular industrial robot arms offer flexibility |
| Advanced Construction Robotics | IronBOT makes rebar installation faster, safer |
| Agility Robotics | Digit humanoid gets feet wet with logistics work |
| Amazon Robotics | Amazon strengthens portfolio with heavy-duty AGV |
| Ambi Robotics | AmbiSort uses real-world data to improve picking |
| Apptronik | Apollo humanoid features bespoke linear actuators |
| Boston Dynamics | Atlas shows off unique skills for humanoid |
| Brightpick | Autopicker applies mobile manipulation, AI to warehouses |
| Capra Robotics | Hircus AMR bridges gap between indoor, outdoor logistics |
| Dexterity | Dexterity stacks robotics and AI for truck loading |
| Disney | Disney brings beloved characters to life through robotics |
| Doosan | App-like Dart-Suite eases cobot programming |
| Electric Sheep | Vertical integration positions landscaping startup for success |
| Exotec | Skypod ASRS scales to serve automotive supplier |
| FANUC | FANUC ships one-millionth industrial robot |
| Figure | Startup builds working humanoid within one year |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics | evoBot features unique mobile manipulator design |
| Gardarika Tres | Develops de-mining robot for Ukraine |
| Geek+ | Upgrades PopPick goods-to-person system |
| Glidance | Provides independence to visually impaired individuals |
| Harvard University | Exoskeleton improves walking for people with Parkinson’s disease |
| ifm efector | Obstacle Detection System simplifies mobile robot development |
| igus | ReBeL cobot gets low-cost, human-like hand |
| Instock | Instock turns fulfillment processes upside down with ASRS |
| Kodama Systems | Startup uses robotics to prevent wildfires |
| Kodiak Robotics | Autonomous pickup truck to enhance U.S. military operations |
| KUKA | Robotic arm leader doubles down on mobile robots for logistics |
| Locus Robotics | Mobile robot leader surpasses 2 billion picks |
| MassRobotics Accelerator | Equity-free accelerator positions startups for success |
| Mecademic | MCS500 SCARA robot accelerates micro-automation |
| MIT | Robotic ventricle advances understanding of heart disease |
| Mujin | TruckBot accelerates automated truck unloading |
| Mushiny | Intelligent 3D sorter ramps up throughput, flexibility |
| NASA | MOXIE completes historic oxygen-making mission on Mars |
| Neya Systems | Development of cybersecurity standards harden AGVs |
| NVIDIA | Nova Carter gives mobile robots all-around sight |
| Olive Robotics | EdgeROS eases robotics development process |
| OpenAI | LLMs enable embedded AI to flourish |
| Opteran | Applies insect intelligence to mobile robot navigation |
| Renovate Robotics | Rufus robot automates installation of roof shingles |
| Robel | Automates railway repairs to overcome labor shortage |
| Robust AI | Carter AMR joins DHL’s impressive robotics portfolio |
| Rockwell Automation | Adds OTTO Motors mobile robots to manufacturing lineup |
| Sereact | PickGPT harnesses power of generative AI for robotics |
| Simbe Robotics | Scales inventory robotics deal with BJ’s Wholesale Club |
| Slip Robotics | Simplifies trailer loading/unloading with heavy-duty AMR |
| Symbotic | Walmart-backed company rides wave of logistics automation demand |
| Toyota Research Institute | Builds large behavior models for fast robot teaching |
| ULC Technologies | Cable Splicing Machine improve safety, power grid reliability |
| Universal Robots | Cobot leader strengthens lineup with UR30 |