The robot moves forward as it works until the entire
truck is unloaded. DHL never rolled out this concept across
its network as in 2003 the technology was insufficiently
mature to implement.
Nevertheless, DHL’s innovative Parcel Robot proved to
the world that robotic unloading was possible and several
companies have since developed the concept further.
A US company called Wynright currently offers a truck
unloading robot for sale62 Like the DHL Parcel Robot,
it unloads boxes onto an extendable conveyor belt at a
rate of over 500 parcels per hour.63 Unlike the DHL robot,
it uses low-cost cameras to locate the boxes rather than
more expensive laser scanners. Over time this technology
should become more cost effective, faster, and more
reliable as cameras, computers, and robotic arms
continue to improve.
Companies like Wynright are also developing trailer
loading robots. This application adds further complexity
to the software because the system now has to determine
the best way to stack boxes of different shapes and
weights to optimally