Mobile Robot Guide
News and analysis of autonomous mobile robots and logistics automation markets
Robotics Summit & Expo to Feature a Track on Warehouse Automation
The 2026 Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, scheduled for May 27‑28, will debut a dedicated logistics automation track featuring seven expert sessions on scaling autonomous robots, AI‑driven material handling, and lights‑out warehouses. Interact Analysis reports a 7% rise in warehouse‑automation order intake in 2025, outpacing expectations as Amazon, Tesco and Marks & Spencer pour capital into large‑scale robotics deployments. The event also offers high‑profile networking, including the RBR50 Awards Dinner and a Women in Robotics Breakfast, with more than 70 speakers across 50+ sessions. Organizers aim to showcase the latest innovations shaping the future of supply‑chain automation.
Packsize Demonstrates Packing of Everything From iPhones to a Hot Wheels Van
Packsize International turned its MODEX 2026 booth into a live demo, letting attendees run anything from iPhones to a Hot Wheels van through its CVP Impack machine. The automated system creates right‑sized corrugated boxes in seconds, processing up to 500 parcels per...
Symbotic Moves More than 2B Cases as Physical AI Demand Accelerates
Symbotic announced that its autonomous mobile robot fleet traveled more than 200 million miles and processed 2.23 billion cases in 2025, marking a significant scale‑up of its physical AI platform. The company reported a 20% rise in miles per robot and a...
Learn How Profitability Meets Sustainability Through Physical AI at the Robotics Summit
Ranpak CEO Omar Asali will discuss how physical AI transforms warehouse logistics at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston on May 27, 2026. The session highlights sensor‑driven automation that links software intelligence with tangible material handling. Ranpak’s data shows...
Brightpick CEO to Discuss Lights-Out Warehouses at Robotics Summit
Brightpick CEO Jan Zizka will speak at the 2026 Robotics Summit in Boston about the practical path to "lights‑out" warehouses. He argues that fully autonomous facilities are becoming viable thanks to recent advances in robotics and AI, but adoption will...
Quicktron Brings Modular Warehouse Automation to U.S. Market
Quicktron Robotics showcased its modular QuickMix solution at MODEX, bringing the QuickBin Ultra tote system and QuickCube pallet technology to the U.S. market. The unified platform lets customers combine tote‑to‑person and full‑load pallet operations on a single software stack, using...
Tutor Intelligence Trains Picking, Palletizing Robots in Data Factory
Tutor Intelligence has launched DF1, a "Data Factory" of 100 bimanual robots that learn through real‑world tele‑operation rather than simulation. Remote tutors in Mexico and the Philippines guide the robots, enabling policy evaluation 100 times faster than traditional methods. The company...
HyperLeap Is Bringing Its Robotic Sorting Systems to North America
HyperLeap, a Chinese logistics‑robotics developer founded in 2024, announced its North American debut at a launch event in Santa Clara, California. The company introduced its flagship HyperSort Flexible Robotic Sorting Solution and the compact HyperWall Node series, both marketed as...
How Stoecklin Logistics Enabled Grupo Bimbo to Modernize Its Logistics Infrastructure
Stoecklin Logistics delivered a fully automated warehouse system for Grupo Bimbo, the global bakery giant operating in 39 countries. The solution integrates automated storage, retrieval, and material‑handling equipment to accelerate order picking, improve inventory rotation, and cut logistics costs. Early...
AutoStore Conducts Pio Pilot with OBOS for Residential Storage
AutoStore announced a pilot of its Pio automated storage system in partnership with OBOS, a leading Nordic real‑estate developer. The pilot, located in the OBOS Living Lab in Oslo, installs a 20 m² grid with 150 bins that can store up...
Why Modularity Is a Smarter, More Scalable Approach to Automation
Warehouses face rising customer expectations and complex operations, prompting many to consider automation. Traditional fixed‑infrastructure systems demand large upfront spend and long implementation cycles, limiting agility. Modular automation replaces monolithic designs with interchangeable, software‑linked blocks that can be added, reconfigured,...
Schneider Electric Says VFD Can Cut Conveyor Installation Time by 30% or More
Schneider Electric unveiled the Altivar Machine ATV350, a variable frequency drive designed for direct on‑machine mounting on conveyors and material‑handling equipment. By eliminating the need for a protective enclosure and reducing wiring, the drive can shorten conveyor installation time by...
Comau and Automha Present Joint Logistics Automation Portfolio
At MODEX 2026, Italian firms Comau SpA and Automha SpA showcased a joint logistics automation portfolio that spans inbound handling, intelligent storage, order preparation, and synchronized shipping. The offering combines Comau’s robots and autonomous mobile robots with Automha’s ASRS shuttles,...
Podcast: Editors Recap MODEX 2026
Episode 240 of The Robot Report podcast recapped MODEX 2026, the Atlanta‑based supply‑chain expo that drew more than 1,000 exhibitors and roughly 50,000 attendees. Editors Gene Demaitre and Sarah Wynn highlighted rising AI‑driven automation, new partnerships, and standout robots from...
Medline to Implement Symbotic AI Robots in Healthcare Initiative
Medline Industries announced a strategic agreement to deploy Symbotic’s AI‑enabled robotics across its distribution network, becoming the first healthcare supplier to adopt the technology. The autonomous system will manage inbound and outbound pallets, storage, and order assembly, targeting faster, more...
Schneider Electric Launches On-Machine Variable Frequency Drive
Schneider Electric unveiled the Altivar Machine ATV350, an on‑machine variable frequency drive designed for conveyor and material‑handling equipment. The drive mounts directly on the machine, offering IP66/UL4X protection, multi‑protocol Ethernet (EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, Modbus TCP) and plug‑and‑play wiring. By eliminating...
Yale Lift Truck Launches Counterbalanced Stacker at MODEX
Yale Lift Truck Technologies unveiled a new counterbalanced stacker at MODEX 2026, expanding its Yale Relay automated lift‑truck platform. The stacker can lift up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) and reach roughly 4 m (13 ft), targeting put‑away and retrieval in stage lanes, conveyors,...
FORTNA Adds Jacobi Robotics’ Automated Palletizer to Its Portfolio
FORTNA announced a strategic partnership with Jacobi Robotics at MODEX 2026, adding the AI‑driven OmniPalletizer to its automation portfolio. The OmniPalletizer can create stable, rule‑compliant pallets from mixed‑case shipments without requiring upstream sequencing hardware or major facility redesign. By integrating...
Angelini Technology Acquires Minority Stake in Lab0
Angelini Technologies has taken a minority equity position in U.S. robotics startup Lab0, the maker of the RoboGlide system that automates container loading and unloading. The investment is intended to accelerate Lab0’s move from prototype to commercial scale and may...
Build Your Virtual Warehouse Before Spending a Single Dollar
GreyOrange unveiled GreyMatter Foundry, an AI‑powered immersive simulator that lets users design, size, and layout warehouse automation without spending capital upfront. The platform integrates with GreyOrange’s existing GreyMatter orchestration, which already manages over 130,000 agents and processes 250,000 trips daily....
Festo to Unify Design and Commissioning at MODEX
Festo will showcase a unified design‑to‑commissioning ecosystem at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, linking system design, sizing, component selection, ordering and commissioning into a single workflow. The solution promises faster build times, fewer integration errors, and instant CAD configuration with on‑the‑spot...
Robotics Is Key to Lower Costs, Faster Deliveries, Says Amazon CEO
In his 2025 shareholder letter, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy highlighted robotics as a core lever to cut costs and speed deliveries. The company now runs more than 1 million robots in fulfillment centers and has acquired RIVR and Fauna Robotics to...
GIC to Show Tech to Boost Efficiency, Ergonomics at MODEX 2026
Global Industrial Co. (GIC) will showcase roughly 50 new material‑handling products at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, emphasizing efficiency, ergonomics and safety. The lineup includes a mobile robot stretch‑wrap machine, an electric pallet jack, a hydraulic self‑dumping hopper, Cat lift tables,...
Ocado to Launch AI-Powered Ocado IQ Software at MODEX
Ocado Intelligent Automation will unveil Ocado IQ, a cloud‑based AI platform, at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta. The software orchestrates every pick, path and priority, supporting two concurrent pick modes—Sweep and TagTeam—across a warehouse. It powers the Chuck and Porter autonomous...
KNAPP to Show AeroBot, Discuss AI and Service Strategy at MODEX
KNAPP will showcase its AeroBot 3‑dimensional warehouse robot and the new KNAPP Brain artificial‑intelligence layer at MODEX 2026 in Atlanta. The AeroBot, which integrates with SAP, recently earned LogiMAT’s Best Product award and demonstrates vertical storage, retrieval and picking. KNAPP...
Tennant Rolls Out X16 SWEEP for Round-the-Clock Autonomous Sweeping
Tennant announced the X16 SWEEP, its first autonomous floor‑sweeping robot from a major cleaning brand, targeting warehouses, logistics hubs and light‑manufacturing sites. Powered by Brain Corp’s BrainOS, the machine combines AI‑driven path planning, visual intelligence and a DustShield system that...
Robotiq Automates Palletizing for Martin Ray Winery
Martin Ray Winery in California has installed Robotiq’s PE20 robotic palletizer, paired with a UR20 collaborative robot and PowerPick 30 vacuum gripper, to automate its end‑of‑line case stacking. The system handles 15 kg wine cases at 6–10 picks per minute, building...
AWG to Deploy Symbotic Automation in Louisiana Support Center
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has signed a strategic partnership with robotics firm Symbotic to install an AI‑enabled, high‑density automation system at its Gulf Coast Division Support Center in Pearl River, Louisiana. The 114,000‑square‑foot facility, which currently processes over 22 million dry‑grocery...
Vecna Robotics Integrates CaseFlow Voice with Robot-Assisted Picking
Vecna Robotics announced CaseFlow Voice, embedding Lucas Systems’ Jennifer voice platform into its CaseFlow case‑picking automation. The hands‑free solution promises up to a 2× boost in throughput and cuts training time by as much as 50%. Designed for high‑mix, high‑volume...
Warehouses Pay the Price for a Lack of Agility, Finds Lucas Systems
Lucas Systems' new study of 114 U.S. supply‑chain executives reveals warehouses are struggling with a surge in unplanned disruptions post‑COVID. More than half report their automation is too rigid, with 85% experiencing up to ten significant interruptions in the past...
Version 3 of VDA 5050 Is a Toolkit for Automation Projects
VDMA Materials Handling has launched VDA 5050 version 3.0, an open communication interface that lets a single controller manage mixed fleets of mobile robots. The update adds a zone‑based navigation model, path‑sharing capabilities, localized error reporting and a standardized power‑saving...
Attabotics Launches Metal ASRS Bin to Mitigate Fire Risk
Attabotics introduced the Guardian bin, a metal‑based storage container designed to lower fire risk in automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). The bin replaces combustible plastic with galvanized steel, contains leaked liquids, and improves fire‑suppression fluid distribution. Its flat‑pack design...
FlexQube Announces $13M Mobile Robot Deal with Potential for Expansion
FlexQube has landed a $13 million contract for its Navigator autonomous mobile robots and tugger trains with a leading U.S. e‑commerce and logistics provider, with deliveries scheduled for Q3 2026. The deal is expected to swell by roughly $4 million as final negotiations...
Allient to Show Drive Systems for Mobile Robots at LogiMAT 2026
Allient Inc. will showcase its newest generation of drive solutions for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) at LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart from March 24‑26. The exhibit features the KinetiMax high‑power‑density brushless DC motor series, integrated wheel‑hub...
Yale Lift Truck to Share Automation Experience at MODEX
Yale Lift Truck Technologies will showcase a suite of automated lift trucks and operator‑assist solutions at the MODEX supply‑chain exhibition in Atlanta. The booth features an interactive Automated Lift Truck Portal that lets visitors map routes without coding, the Reliant...
Brightpick Launches Gridpicker for High-Throughput Fulfillment
Brightpick unveiled Gridpicker, a high‑throughput fulfillment system that merges a dense grid storage framework with AI‑driven mobile manipulators built on its Autopicker platform. The solution promises up to twice the throughput per square meter of traditional shuttle ASRS and claims...
DHL Supply Chain Deploys SVT Robotics’ SOFTBOT Across Global Network
DHL Supply Chain has rolled out SVT Robotics’ SOFTBOT platform across its global warehouse network, now live in 30 sites with a target of over 100 within three years. The middleware replaces custom‑coded integrations that once took six to eight...
Arvato Acquires THINK Logistics, Builds Out North American Fulfillment Platform
Arvato SE announced the acquisition of Canadian third‑party logistics provider THINK Logistics, expanding its footprint across the United States and Canada. The deal adds roughly 20 Canadian fulfillment sites and 20,000 employees worldwide, integrating THINK’s technology‑driven operations with Arvato’s existing...
Dermalogica Deploys Corvus Robotics Inventory System
Dermalogica, the professional skincare brand, has installed Corvus Robotics’ Corvus One aerial inventory drones at its Carson, California distribution center. The AI‑driven system autonomously scans the warehouse 52 times a year, a 600 % rise over the previous manual cycle‑count process...
FORTNA Offers OptiSweep to Automate Sortation
FORTNA introduced OptiSweep, an automated sorter close‑out solution that pairs its proprietary software with Geek+ autonomous mobile robots. The system retrieves orders from sorter divert points and delivers them to goods‑to‑person stations, handling 4,000‑34,000 units per hour. By replacing manual...
Oxa Raises $103M to Automate Industrial Driving Tasks
UK‑based Oxa raised $103 million in a Series D round led by the National Wealth Fund, with participation from NVIDIA Ventures and other investors. The capital will fast‑track development of its Oxa Driver autonomous‑driving software and the Oxa Hub cloud platform, which...
Autonomous Mobile Robots Mature in the Warehouse
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are moving from pilot projects to full‑scale warehouse deployments as labor shortages and falling hardware costs drive demand. Integration of fleet management with warehouse management systems and the addition of AI capabilities are enhancing robot navigation,...
Ambi Robotics Introduces AmbiVision for AI Vision in Distribution Centers
Ambi Robotics unveiled AmbiVision, an AI‑powered vision module that extends its AI Skill Suite for distribution centers. The software adds cognitive OCR, item identification, pose estimation and defect detection, working with any compatible camera system. Leveraging 250,000 hours of production...
Upgraded HaiPick Climb Aims to Make the Aisle Obsolete
Hai Robotics has upgraded its HaiPick Climb system to support double‑deep storage and sub‑120‑second delivery cycles, enabling up to 4,000 tote deliveries per hour. The compact design can hold 45,000 totes within 10,764 sq ft, boosting inventory density without expanding warehouse footprints....
Zio to Use NEO Battery Cells in Mobile Robots
Zio Robot Co. announced it will replace its Chinese‑sourced batteries with high‑energy lithium‑ion cells from Canada’s NEO Battery Materials for its Mobile Worker (MW) autonomous mobile robots. The partnership aims to boost energy density, high‑rate discharge capability, and overall robot...
Learn How to Get Started with Warehouse Automation
Automated Warehouse is hosting a live webinar tomorrow at noon ET titled “How to Get Started With Warehouse Automation.” The session will outline a phased adoption strategy that begins with a detailed operational assessment and targets high‑impact, low‑risk tasks such...
Why Warehouse Maturity Blooms in Uneven Seasons
The article frames warehouse technology adoption as a series of seasonal maturity levels, ranging from manual operations to fully dynamic, software‑driven facilities. It warns that forcing a single platform across all sites creates fragmentation, higher costs, and stunted growth. Instead,...
AW 2026 to Show Hyundai’s MobED as Logistics, Manufacturing Robots Advance
Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics Lab will showcase its MobED mobile platform at the Smart Factory & Automation World (AW) exhibition in Seoul from March 4‑6, 2026. MobED, unveiled in December 2025, features four independently controlled wheels and an eccentric mechanism...
Infios Integrates Robots, Software to Help Dental City Triple Pickup Rates
Dental City, a 30‑year dental supply distributor, partnered with Infios to embed Locus Robotics autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) into its warehouse management system. Within three months the 40,000‑sq‑ft facility saw pick rates triple, enabling same‑day fulfillment and a two‑day nationwide...
Attabotics Gets a New Life at LaFayette Systems
Attabotics, the Canadian robotics firm behind a patented cubic goods‑to‑person storage system, filed for bankruptcy in 2025 and was acquired by Danville‑based LaFayette Systems in September. The deal keeps Attabotics' engineering, business, and manufacturing operations in Calgary, with key legacy...