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The story of warehouse robotics is a story of attempting to keep up with Amazon . It ’s been more than a ten since the on-line giant revolutionized its livery service of process through its Kiva Systems acquisition . As Walmart works to stay competitive , it ’s accept a more bit-by-bit approach to automation , through partnership with a range of different robotics firms .
On Thursday , the mega - retailer announceda partnership with Fox Robotics , which brings 19 of the Austin - based inauguration ’s automatonlike forklifts to its dispersion centers . Today ’s news follows a 16 - calendar month cowcatcher , which found Walmart trialing the technology in Distribution Center 6020 .
That Florida distribution center is the first of what the fellowship calls its “ mellow - tech DC . ” These are warehouses where it trials automation and various other engineering , before flap them out to its wider groove of distribution and fulfillment center . DC 6020 is the place where Walmart begantrials with Symbotic’spackage sortation and retrieval technologies .
Robotic forklifts are emblematic of a brownfield approach to automation , which is to say that the company is effectively retrofitting existing warehouses with engineering , rather than build up that space ground - up around the technical school . It ’s sure a quicker and less expensive approaching , though there may be business deal - offs in the terminal .
So , why automate forklifts ? In addition to efficiency , the right way automatize systems bring an added sensory faculty of guard . Around 95 masses are injure by forklifts each day in the U.S. Imagine driving a slice of heavy machinery with blind spots and two massive metallic element prongs jutting out the front , and you could pop to see why they ’re potentially very grievous — particularly in smashed space with a sight of human workers hanging around .
