Boston Dynamics partners with Otto Motors to co-ordinate mobile robots in the warehouse

Boston Dynamics, a developer of mobile manipulation robots, and OTTO Motors, a maker of industrial autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), have unveiled what they describe as “a demo of the future of warehouse automation”.

In a video (see below), Boston Dynamics’s logistics robot, Handle, can be seen picking boxes and building pallets on top of OTTO AMRs in a distribution center testbed.

Last year, Boston Dynamics announced its efforts to add flexible, highly mobile automation technology to the warehouse with its Handle robot and Pick computer vision system.

Since then, the team has integrated Pick’s box detection software into the Handle robot and sold and integrated Pick into industrial robotic workcells at sites around the world.

The Handle robot completed proof of concept trials with customers in their warehouses last year and Boston Dynamics is working with OTTO Motors to further automate the logistics space.

Kevin Blankespoor, Boston Dynamics VP of product engineering, says: “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.

“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.”

OTTO Motors has long focused on solving the problem of moving goods in the warehouse through AMRs like the OTTO 1500, providing mission-critical deliveries within a variety of industrial environments.

Ryan Gariepy, CTO and co-founder of OTTO Motors, says: “It’s exciting to engage with other cutting-edge robotics companies like Boston Dynamics. As leaders in our respective spaces, we can apply our technologies to field a whole new realm of applications.”