Walmart will deploy robotic forklifts in its distribution centers

The story of the robotic warehouse is a story of trying to keep up with Amazon. It’s been more than a decade since the online giant revolutionized delivery services through its acquisition of Kiva Systems. As Walmart works to stay competitive, it’s taking a more piecemeal approach to automation, partnering with a number of different robotics companies.

On Thursday, the mega-retailer announced a partnership with Fox Robotics, which is bringing 19 of the Austin-based startup’s robotic forklifts to its distribution centers. Today’s news follows a 16-month pilot, which found Walmart testing the technology at Distribution Center 6020.

This Florida distribution center is the first of what the company calls a “high-tech DC.” These are warehouses where it tests automation and various other technologies before making them available to the wider distribution channel and fulfillment centers. DC 6020 is where Walmart started trials with Symbotic’s packet sorting and retrieval technologies.

After that successful trial, Walmart announced plans to expand the technology to all 42 of its regional distribution centers — which was nearly double the original goal of 25. This week’s news is more modest, targeting four high-tech DCs , but if things go well, the retailer will order more.

The robotic forklifts are emblematic of an approach to automation, meaning the company is effectively equipping existing warehouses with technology, rather than building that space around technology. It is certainly a faster and less expensive approach, although there may be trade-offs in the end.

So, why automate forklifts? In addition to efficiency, properly automated systems offer an added sense of security. About 95 people are injured by forklifts every day in the U.S. Imagine driving a piece of heavy machinery with blind spots and two huge metal tines jutting out the front, and you can begin to see why they are potentially very dangerous — especially in tight spaces with lots of human workers walking around. .