DHL Group, the world’s largest logistics company, plans to deploy more than 1,000 additional Stretch robots from Boston Dynamics to automate container loading.
Stretch robots, which can load up to 700 boxes per hour, are in use at DHL facilities in North America, the United Kingdom, and Europe. Introduced in 2021, Stretch features a robotic arm with 7 degrees of freedom (DoF) and a suction cup to pick up a wide range of box types and sizes.
The robot mounts to a mobile base so it can easily move between different dock doors and plugs into standard warehouse power sources. Its AI-powered vision system recognizes and localizes boxes without needing preprogrammed instructions.
“Stretch is ideally suited to be the first multi-use case, box picking robot that can meet the diverse needs of DHL,” Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Player said in a press release. “Together we are striving to set an example of practical leadership of the modern supply chain.”
Germany-based DHL has already invested more than $1 billion over the last three years in automation. The company has deployed more than 7,500 robots, 200,000 smart handheld devices, and nearly 800,000 IoT devices across its global network. More than 90 percent of DHL warehouses are equipped with at least one automation or digitization solution, according to DHL.
The logistics giant operates in more than 220 countries and territories with its extensive air, sea, road, and rail network. Its divisions include DHL Express for global international express shipping, DHL Supply Chain for contract logistics, DHL Global Forwarding for air and ocean freight, and DHL eCommerce for parcel delivery for online shopping. DHL employees more than 600,000 people globally and has more than 100,000 vehicles, 300 warehouses, and a fleet of aircraft.
DHL and Boston Dynamics have been collaborating since at least 2018, with deployments of the stretch robots beginning in North America in 2023.
DHL says it’s working with the Massachusetts robotics leader to develop new uses for the Strech robots like picking boxes from shelves. The company says it will take on a more active role in advancing its capabilities with Boston Dynamics and other partners.
“Through our Accelerated Digitalization Agenda, we are committed to maximizing the impact of robotics and automation across all our operations and business units,” Sally Miller, DHL Supply Chain’s Global CIO, said in a statement. “It’s a fundamental shift that’s reshaping how we operate and elevate service for our customers.”
Hyundai Motor Group, the parent company of Boston Dynamics, recently announced plans to purchase tens of thousands of robots from the robotics leader in the coming years. The commitment is part of Hyundai’s broader $21 billion investment in the US, with $6 billion allocated for innovation and strategic partnerships. The South Korea-based manufacturer plans to buy Stretch robots for warehouse automation, Spot quadrupedal robodogs for industrial inspections and predictive maintenance, and Atlas humanoid robots for industrial tasks.