Ocado is an online retailer of fresh groceries and other household essentials that is now testing a robotic arm for packing orders at its warehouse.
Ocado is now using the RBO Hand 2, developed by the Technische Universität Berlin, to gently grab fruits of different shapes and sizes. As of now, all packing orders are carried out by humans, but Ocado has already embraced automation across a variety of its systems. The success of this robotic arm could lead it to become a permanent part of the company's warehouses, as early as the year 2020.
The trials of this robot arm at Ocado's warehouse are part of a larger European Union-backed project that is being used to determine how well robotic arms can handle fragile objects.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Robotic Order Packing
- Online retailers may shift toward more automated packing methods to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
- Fruit-grabbing Robotics
- Advancements in robotics may allow for the gentle handling of delicate and unique fruits in produce packing facilities.
- Eu-funded Robotic Projects
- Backed by the EU, research on robotic arms in sensitive packing scenarios may lead to a new era of automation in various industrial sectors.
Sectors Adopting This
- Online Grocery Retail
- Retailers using automated packing techniques may gain a competitive edge in the crowded online grocery market.
- Produce Packing
- Produce facilities may see increased efficiency and less product damage with the use of robotics in packing fragile items.
- Robotics Research and Development
- The research and development of robotic arms with delicate touch capabilities may have practical applications in multiple industries beyond produce packing.
