NFI automates truck unloading with Boston Dynamics Stretch robotic in $10 million deal
Third social gathering logistics supplier (3PL) NFI Industries will deploy a truck-unloading robotic made by Boston Dynamics subsequent yr in a $10 million pilot program at its Savannah, Georgia, warehouse, the businesses stated at this time.
The transfer is step one in NFI’s plan to automate its operations by rolling out a fleet of the “Stretch” mannequin robots throughout North America over the following few years. Camden, New Jersey-based NFI stated the elevated automation is required to assist the circulate of products and improve operational capability as provide chain demand stays close to all-time highs.
Extra particularly, NFI foresees Stretch turning into an “invaluable asset” in its community of import deconsolidation facilities, cross-dock, and transload services, as nicely as floor-loaded inbound and outbound distribution facilities.
Waltham, Massachusetts-based Boston Dynamics is finest identified for its two-legged “Atlas” and its four-legged “Spot” robots, however has lately developed the rolling Stretch mannequin to focus on the logistics sector.
With its robotic arm and vision-guided vacuum gripper mounted on a cellular platform, Stretch is an automatic case dealing with system that may transfer a wide range of package deal sorts as much as 50 kilos in weight. Every Stretch unit operates for greater than a full shift on a single cost or as much as 16 hours with a high-capacity battery possibility, and may autonomously get better any packages that shift or fall through the unloading course of, the agency says.
https://www.bostondynamics.com/merchandise/stretch
NFI’s deal marks the second massive logistics supplier to purchase a Stretch bot, after DHL made a $15 million buy in January.
“We designed Stretch to automate field transferring, an operationally and bodily difficult activity throughout warehouses,” Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, stated in a launch. “Demand for items continues to rise, and robots like Stretch may help NFI alleviate a few of the challenges related to that surging demand. Stretch makes truck unloading a safer and extra environment friendly activity, and NFI can cross that effectivity alongside to its prospects.”
Future ahead options to boost our prospects’ operations. Examine our $10 million settlement to deploy @BostonDynamics‘ Stretch robotic throughout our North American community: https://t.co/SSclE9dg40 pic.twitter.com/6uFmUfm6mH
— NFIindustries (@NFIindustries) August 31, 2022
“With Stretch, we’ll improve the motion of freight by way of our services whereas offering a safer atmosphere for our workers.” – Sid Brown, CEO, @NFIindustries. Study why NFI selected Stretch in a $10 million settlement. https://t.co/dpS1Lq0TzE
— Boston Dynamics (@BostonDynamics) August 31, 2022
