Innovation of the week: Ocado launches new autonomous pallet moving robots

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Innovation of the Week is a series highlighting retail initiatives that have caught the eye of our team.

Rendering of OIA - Porter robot

Source: Ocado

What is it?

Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA), part of Ocado Group, introduced the Porter AMR at a technology event last week.

Porter is a pallet-moving autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that navigates warehouses to automate several warehouse workflows such as cross-docking, bulk-item picking, put-away, and pallet movement.

Ocado said the Porter “streamlines heavy handling of up to 1,500kg payloads across facilities of any size, collaborating with workers and fellow robots to efficiently distribute tasks, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity”.

Why does it matter?

Ocado is best known for its patented automated storage and retrieval system – essentially robots that run on grids in automated warehouses that are designed for picking and packing grocery orders.

However, its new Porter robot represents a step forward for the business in terms of both autonomous robotics that run free of the grid, as well as expanding its operations into sectors beyond grocery.

Ocado said the robot “needs to counterbalance, enabling it to precisely navigate tight, busy and ever-changing warehouse spaces”, and can be programmed using the company’s patented system-directed software.

However, the Porter also has a manual mode which staff can use through an “intuitive touchscreen interface”.

“Porter from OIA automates low-value, manual tasks and fosters a more productive workplace by supporting associates, increasing case picking rates, and automating the movement of high volumes of inventory,” said Jeff Larson, director of solutions design for Ocado Mobile Robot System at OIA.

“Companies in third-party logistics, retail, ecommerce, distribution and healthcare can maximise warehouse productivity and scale operations up or down easily without depending on manual forklifts and expensive certified forklift drivers.”

Strategic implications

Porter seems to represent a big step forward in autonomous robotics for Ocado, which had previously been focused on its automated warehouse technology.

The new iteration of robots could well be integrated into the brand’s existing suite of automated services at its network of customer fulfilment centres in the UK, but perhaps more importantly for its ever-growing network of international customers.

It also represents an M&A coup for the company, as Porter was designed by 6 River Systems, the company Ocado snapped up in July 2023 from Shopify for just $12.7m.

Porter brings Ocado into the realm of robotics giants such as Amazon, offering retailers automated logistics solutions that can work alongside people for the first time.