These Warehouse Robots Are Designed To Understand, Work In Harmony With Humans

Having autonomous robots in warehouses has posed quite a challenge as autonomous robots can be difficult to trust when transporting heavy goods around humans in a tight area. For them to truly be accepted in these spaces, engineers will need to find a way for both robots and humans to co-exist in the workplace without getting in each other’s way.  

Robust.AI has created its artificial intelligence software ‘Grace’, and its physical partner ‘Carter’, to solve the issue. Together, they are able to detect their human coworkers as they go about their day in the warehouse, assisting with the workload and maintaining the safety of the environment.

These two work hand in hand as a literal well-oiled machine. Grace is a no-code software system that makes it easy for companies to adopt, while Carter is a Collaborative Mobile Robot (CMR) that has been designed to work with people.

Grace’s system can alert Carter of a person nearby that needs help, or to take the initiative and offer to do something for them without being prompted or programmed with a set of fixed duties.  

As the brains of the two, Grace uses data collected from cameras and periscopes on Carter to process its surroundings. It can then alert Carter of a person nearby that needs help, or to nudge the brawns to take the initiative and offer to do something for them without being prompted or programmed with a set of fixed duties.  

Grace’s software allows it to meld into the workflow of any warehouse it is in. It has semantic and people perception to identify those around it and the behaviors of human colleagues, says Robust.AI. Meanwhile, Carter’s robotics allows it to jump right into the workforce without any additional changes to the environment to cater to the inclusion of a robot.  

A similar robot was created by the Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation Technology Center in China Three Gorges University, where it could read a human’s mind through electrical signals from a person’s muscles and preempt their next move. Often it would jump in at different points on the assembly line when it senses its help needed without being told to do so, much like Grace and Carter.  

Robust.AI has found that the supply chain industry has been struggling against a weakening workforce and seeks to aid shorthanded companies with robotics.

Bots in warehouses aren’t a new concept. However, the uptake can be slow due to the nature of some of the robots, as well as learning curve for people who may need to operate them. Grace and Carter are positioned to change the landscape by being able to fully learn and assimilate to each unique work environment of warehouses worldwide. 

[via Tech Times and Business Wire, cover image via Robust.AI]