The box master
According to the Parcel Shipping Index, an average of 5’000 parcels per second were shipped worldwide in 2022. To ensure that every parcel reaches the recipient quickly, GF is helping its customer to develop an innovative solution in some of the world’s busiest logistics centers.
Stretch, the newly developed logistics robot from Boston Dynamics, is capable of handling up to 800 boxes per hour. GF Casting Solutions is supplying the central component of the warehouse robot that can sort packages in logistics centers or load and unload containers on ships or trucks. The heart of the robot is the chassis – i.e. the frame that is also the battery housing. All the connections and the drive train are mounted on it, while the large, fully movable robot arm sits on top. The new Stretch leverages the power of artificial intelligence. It automatically detects the size of a box, picks it up using its gripper with suction cups and moves it to the desired location. It operates entirely without the need for automation infrastructure such as rails to perform these tasks. Its wheeled base provides for a wide range of movement, enabling it to perform the work of two to three employees in an industry that is coping with personnel shortages. The robot is expected to hit the market in 2025. Demand is already high. Boston Dynamics is currently testing seven prototypes and an initial pre-series on the customer side.
Did you know …
• The first seven prototypes of the GF-built chassis were cast, machined and delivered in just 12 weeks. 3D printing made this possible.
• Stretch, the logistics robot, features a wheeled base for maneuverability, and its mast comes equipped with cameras and sensors.
• The robotic arm on Stretch can lift loads of up to 23 kilograms.
• With a fully charged battery system, Stretch can operate over the course of a full eight-hour shift.