Boston Dynamics Unveils New Warehouse Robot

- The robot is officially named Stretch and its first application is focused on unloading floor-loaded trailers and containers, with the ability to move up to 800 cases per hour. - Stretch can handle packages up to 50 pounds (23 kg) and is designed to operate for a full shift on a single charge, with a high-capacity battery option for up to 16 hours of runtime. - It utilizes an advanced vision system and machine learning to make real-time decisions, enabling it to handle a wide range of box types and sizes without requiring pre-programming of SKU information. - The robot is designed for deployment in existing warehouse environments without requiring costly reconfiguration, featuring a mobile base the size of a standard pallet that can navigate ramps and tight spaces. - Although designed for a specific industrial task, Stretch's technology leverages core advancements from Boston Dynamics' broader research into dynamic stability and perception, sharing technological foundations with robots like Atlas. - Stretch is commercially available, and strong early demand led to it being sold out for 2022, with early customers including major logistics and retail companies like DHL Supply Chain, Gap, and H&M. - The system consists of a mobile base, a 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, and a "perception mast" with cameras and sensors, all working with a powerful vacuum gripper to pick up packages. - The company was founded in 1992 as a spin-off from MIT and is now owned by Hyundai Motor Group, which completed the acquisition in June 2021.