An undeniable trend from this year’s Modex conference: suddenly everyone is into truck unloading. The last couple of years have gone from a select few companies to seemingly everyone in and around the robotic warehouse trying to tackle the problem. Most solutions are some variation on a basic theme: a robotic arm attached to a mobile base that can be moved in and out of boxes.
And then there is TruckBot. When I first saw the system, which debuted at the show last year, it took me a minute to understand what I was looking at. As we looked down the vantage point of the conference rooms on the mezzanine floor of the Mujin Pavilion, my eye was immediately drawn to the large industrial robot arm in the foreground — after all, that’s what most of these systems look like.
Instead, the TruckBot sat atop a conveyor belt. In fact, the TruckBot is actually a replacement conveyor belt. The system can move up and down vertically (up to 10 feet), side to side, and has a 52-foot reach that allows it to enter containers without leaving its spot on the belt. Interestingly, the company refers to the system as using the language of a robotic arm, including the wrist joint and the “plate” at the end, which is actually a series of pneumatic suction cups attached to the side of the box.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
Unloading trucks is a particularly stressful aspect of warehouse work, which is a big reason why Pickle Robotics, Boston Dynamics and others have focused so much on the task. Not only is it repetitive back-breaking work, the containers are made to stick out of the warehouses, which means they can get dangerously hot or cold, depending on the season.
The system feels clunky — it certainly lacks the nimbleness of Boston Dynamics’ Stretch. But it is a smart solution that integrates the collection directly into the transport system. The system is capable of handling a range of sizes, weighing up to 50kg per piece. Mujin says it can process up to 1,000 boxes per hour. Seeing it in action brought to mind a large, metallic plant-eating dinosaur.
Image Credits: Brian Heater
“TruckBot is a game-changer for warehouses looking to streamline operations and reduce costs,” the company notes. The dock door is the biggest bottleneck in our supply chain and unloading trailers is frustrating work. TruckBot will improve safety and efficiency for warehouses around the world, while unlocking the potential for truly fully autonomous operations.”
The robot is the latest addition to the Mujin ecosystem, which also includes robots for palletizing, depalletizing and picking pieces. TruckBot’s next trick will be to figure out how to load trucks, although this may require some modifications to the “gripper” system.
