Magazino is a German startup company that develops and
builds perception-driven mobile robots for intralogistics.
Its latest development is the picking robot TORU. Using
2D and 3D cameras and Magazino's technology, this robot
can identify individual objects on a shelf, grasp an item
securely, and place it precisely at its destination. TORU
works alongside humans, providing just-in-time object
delivery to the workbench or shipping station. DPDHL
plans to test TORU in a fulfillment center for 2016.
There are still technical and cost challenges to overcome
before these robots will be ready for widespread use but
they have some key advantages over stationary goods-topicker
robots. First of all, the concept is much more scalable.
If you have a small distribution center, you may only
need one or two mobile robots and you could add robots
one at a time as you grow. One can even envisage renting
or leasing the robots; the warehouse could first test a few
of them during low times and later rent more during busy
periods when more help is needed. These robots could
work alongside existing workers, picking easy items while
the humans pick the more complicated products or
focus on solving exceptions. Moving to a new warehouse
would be easier since the robots are not bolted to the
floor and a market for used robots would develop,
reducing investment risk.