Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#1

Post by simonpure » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 2:56 PM UTC

Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation
bostondynamics.com

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#2

Post by ellimilial » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:05 PM UTC

Does this even count without a movie where they abuse the robot mercilessly? #thisiscruelty

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#3

Post by mikece » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:15 PM UTC

Is there a reference design/concept for zero-human warehouse operations? Stretch looks like something optimized for warehouses designed around human operators. If humans weren't even part of the design consideration I would think the robotics would be less of a replacement for the humans walking the aisles and picking stock and more integrated into the storage infrastructure itself.

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#4

Post by wlesieutre » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:20 PM UTC

Discussion yesterday: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26620059

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#5

Post by danesparza » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:24 PM UTC

mikece wrote: post #3

Is there a reference design/concept for zero-human warehouse operations? Stretch looks like something optimized for warehouses designed around human operators. If humans weren't even part of the design consideration I would think the robotics would be less of a replacement for the humans walking the aisles and picking stock and more integrated into the storage infrastructure itself.

This is an excellent point, and probably makes this more of a transition robot (transitioning operations from human centric to robot-centric). Come to think of it, most Boston dynamic robots I've seen have been designed to operate around humans (and this probably makes them more 'friendly' to humans)

The reference design/concept for zero-human warehouse operations might exist in China now: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/the-rush-to-deploy-robots-in...

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#6

Post by cs702 » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:27 PM UTC

It's not difficult to imagine ultra-efficient warehouses that have no need for physical human labor, within our lifetime. Exciting stuff.

But I have to ask: Can this thing fight queen xenomorphs?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWJDtVmGenc

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#7

Post by SV_BubbleTime » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:28 PM UTC

If you just want to skip to what it looks like and the specific overview, https://www.bostondynamics.com/stretch

Re: Boston Dynamics Unveils New Robot for Warehouse Automation

#8

Post by Cthulhu_ » Tue, Mar 30, 2021, 3:29 PM UTC

mikece wrote: post #3

Is there a reference design/concept for zero-human warehouse operations? Stretch looks like something optimized for warehouses designed around human operators. If humans weren't even part of the design consideration I would think the robotics would be less of a replacement for the humans walking the aisles and picking stock and more integrated into the storage infrastructure itself.

Probably the closest thing would be container harbors, where automated vehicles (AGV's) have been doing the grunt work of carrying containers around for nearly 30 years now (see e.g. https://vimeo.com/259128459). IIRC humans still operate the cranes though.

But yeah, assuming infinite space, I'd work on standardizing packaging for products; miniature containers, each containing one of a product. Probably would need multiple sizes of containers though. But a manufacturer would, instead of packaging everything in boxes, use the reusable containers to deliver products to the automated warehouses. Probably massively inefficient in terms of packaging though.