A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and BionicHIVE are four months into a pilot designed to assess automation processes that sort, select, and store packages.
The designed pilot can navigate warehouse floors using built-in cameras and sensors, moving between people and objects.
According to Maersk, the product can climb on the existing warehouse racking to sort, pick, and replenish cartons directly to and from any spot in the rack.
The evaluation is being conducted at a Maersk warehouse in Mira Loma, California and is expected to last another four months.
The mobile units are battery-operated, running a smart-power consumption module which automatically replaces its power packs.
“By integrating BionicHIVE’s SqUID solution into our warehouse operations, we will be able to optimise processes and better serve our customers in a rapidly evolving market,” said Global Head of Innovation for Logistic and Services at Maersk, Erez Agmoni.
SqUID’s software integrates into warehouse management systems, providing real-time inventory data.
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“This is the only solution in the market with so much flexibility in operations and minimal impact to existing warehouse interior infrastructure,” reported Maersk in a statement.
The global warehouse automation market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.2 per cent through 2026, according to Maersk.
This announcement comes less than two weeks after Maersk developed a new technology to optimise order picking, batch packing, and stock replenishment in warehouse fulfilment operations.
