Exotec Solutions, a French AI robotics start-up, has announced the launch of the Skypod Robots and associated system.
Cdiscount, the top聽French eCommerce vendor, is now using Skypods to prepare orders in its warehouse near Bordeaux, increasing their order processing speed by x4.
With the system, Cdiscount is able to handle 400 picks per hour compared to the industry average of 200 picks per hour (with classical automation) and 100 picks per hour manually.
The Skypod system is the first order preparation system in the world to use 3D mobile robots.
Capable of movement in three dimensions at a speed of 10 mph the robots transfer goods in the warehouse to human operators who arrange the products to be packed and shipped to customers.
Laser scanner navigation allows the robots to travel anywhere in the storage area carrying 60+ pound bins.
鈥渆Commerce is changing the game in the logistics industry,鈥� says Exotec Solutions CEO Romain Moulin.
鈥淭o respond to today’s market requirements, companies are putting the emphasis on deployment speed and flexible deployment capability rather than heavy fixed infrastructure in order to best respond to rapid fluctuations in demand.
鈥淭he Skypod addresses the needs of a new generation of customers who are looking for high performance and high density systems that can be modified every 2 years.鈥�
The logistics industry is valued at $10.5 trillion globally and is projected to reach $15.5 trillion by 2023.
Within this market, eCommerce logistics is predicted to grow 23 per cent in 2017.
Modern logistics face the dual challenge of performance and agility in a fast-moving market, while ensuring the preparation of thousands of orders per day, for same-day delivery.
Compared to shelf-mover robots, used by eCommerce major vendors, the Skypod sets a new standard by moving four times faster and five times higher.
鈥淔rom inception, the system has been designed to ensure fast deployment and full scalability,鈥� says Renaud Heitz, Exotec CTO and co-founder.
鈥淪kypod鈥檚 free navigation allows the robots to travel anywhere within the system, something the competition can鈥檛 offer today.
鈥淭he system鈥檚 software is powered by the latest artificial intelligence, allowing us to deploy on site within days instead of weeks.鈥�
In December 2016 Exotec聽raised $3.5million from 360 Capital Partners and Breega Capital.