There was an undeniable trend at this year’s Modex conference: suddenly everyone started unloading trucks. Over the past few years, everyone from a few select companies to seemingly everyone in and around the warehouse robotics space has sought to solve this problem. Most solutions are some variation on a basic theme: a robotic arm attached to a mobile base that can move in and out of crates.
Then there are truck robots. When I first saw this system, which debuted last year, it took me a minute to realize what I was looking at. As we looked down from our vantage point in the mezzanine conference room at the Mujin booth, my eye was immediately drawn to the large industrial robot arm in the foreground – after all, that’s what most systems look like.
Instead, the truck robot sits on a conveyor belt. In fact, TruckBot is actually part of a conveyor belt. The system can move vertically up and down (up to 10 feet), side to side, and has a 52-foot range of movement, allowing it to access containers without leaving its position on the conveyor. Interestingly, the company uses the language of a robotic arm to refer to the system, including the wrist joint and the “gripper” on the end, which is actually a series of pneumatic suction cups attached to the side of the box.
Image Source: Brian Hitt
Unloading trucks is an especially physically demanding part of warehouse work, which is a big reason why Pickle Robotics, Boston Dynamics and other companies are so focused on this task. Not only is this repetitive, back-breaking labor, but the containers are designed to stick to the outside of the warehouse, which means they can get dangerously hot or cold, depending on the season.
The system looks clunky—and certainly lacks the flexibility of Boston Dynamics’ Stretch. But it’s a clever solution that integrates picking directly into the conveyor system. The system is capable of handling a variety of sizes and pieces weighing up to 50 pounds. Mujin says it can process up to 1,000 boxes per hour. Watching it move is reminiscent of a giant metallic herbivorous dinosaur.
Image Source: Brian Hitt
“TruckBot is a game changer for warehouses looking to streamline operations and reduce costs,” the company states. “Dock doors are the largest bottleneck in our supply chain, and unloading trailers is a very backbreaking job.” TruckBot will improve the safety and effectiveness of warehouses around the world while unlocking the possibility of truly fully autonomous operations. “
The robot is the latest addition to the Mujin ecosystem, which also includes robots for stacking, depalletizing and piece picking. TruckBot’s next trick will be figuring out how to load the truck, although that may require some tweaking of the “clamp” system.
