Warehouse Fulfillment Automation Built for Throughput

At Modex 2026, Ocado showcased its high‑density Storage and Retrieval System (OSRS), a tote‑based solution that can stack up to 21 totes high, effectively cubing out an entire warehouse. The system runs roughly five million picks per week, driven by lightweight, 3D‑printed robots that accelerate quickly and conserve battery power. A unique battery‑swap robot eliminates traditional charging stalls, swapping batteries in about 30 seconds to keep the fleet moving and maintain peak throughput.

The OSRS relies on sophisticated AI to assign “entitlement” scores, deciding which SKUs the robotic arms can handle and which require human pickers. This dynamic routing ensures that items are automatically rerouted when a robot fails, preserving resiliency and eliminating single points of failure. Human operators still play a role, receiving totes that the robots cannot process, but the overall design maximizes density, speed, and flexibility for sectors such as apparel, grocery, and healthcare distribution.

Complementing the hardware, Ocado’s IQ platform orchestrates both the Chuck item‑fulfillment AMR and its newer sibling, Porter, which specializes in pallet and case handling. By sharing a common software layer, the two robots collaborate in omni‑channel environments, enabling workflows like goods‑to‑person, mixed‑pallet creation, and coordinated aisle sweeping. This integrated approach addresses a growing market demand for seamless item‑ and pallet‑level automation, offering retailers and distributors a scalable path to higher productivity and lower labor costs.