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GXO partners with Reflex Robotics to deploy new warehouse automation
GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: GXO), the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, announced a new agreement with Reflex Robotics, a cutting-edge general-purpose humanoid startup, to pilot Reflex’s robotics solution for deployment into live operations. This is GXO’s second Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) agreement.
The Reflex Robot is an out-of-the-box solution that reaches operational capability within 60 minutes of deployment and ramps to become fully autonomous by learning from human demonstrations over time. The multi-purpose humanoid from Reflex can transition seamlessly between repetitive tasks, from tote transfers between other kinds of automation to product picking.
GXO signs industry-first multi-year agreement with Agility Robotics
GXO Logistics, Inc., the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, and Agility Robotics, creator of the leading bipedal Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR) Digit®, announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement to begin deploying Digit in GXO’s logistics operations. This agreement, which follows a proof-of-concept pilot in late 2023, is both the industry’s first formal commercial deployment of humanoid robots and first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) deployment of humanoid robots.
As part of the RaaS agreement, GXO is deploying Digit robots and Agility Arc™, Agility’s cloud automation platform for deploying and managing Digit fleets. Digit is a multi-purpose, human-centric robot made for logistics work, and designed to work safely in human spaces and help with a variety of repetitive tasks. Agility Arc is designed to simplify the deployment lifecycle, from facility mapping and workflow definition to operational management and troubleshooting.
In the SPANX facility, Agility’s solutions integrate with existing automation, including Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Expanding on last year’s pilot, Digit robots are assisting with repetitive tasks such as moving totes from cobots and placing them onto conveyors, all orchestrated through Agility Arc. Under the RaaS agreement, the companies will continue to explore additional use cases and scale Digit usage to meet demand throughout the deployment.
GXO Advances Humanoid Strategy with Apptronik
GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: GXO), the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, announced it is conducting an early-stage proof-of-concept program in partnership with robot manufacturer Apptronik. This collaboration marks another milestone in GXO’s strategy to advance humanoid innovation by partnering with developers to help shape their prototypes to meet the evolving demands of the logistics industry.
Apptronik’s general purpose industrial humanoid robot stands 5’8”tall, can carry 55 pounds and operates on swappable batteries that are configured to give it the highest operational time of any humanoid robot. Apollo is powered by linear actuators that mimic the mechanics of human muscles and provide a full range of mobility. Its unique force control architecture and flexible safety zone perimeter allow Apollo to work safely around and directly with people. Together, the companies are evaluating the overall performance of the robot in a lab setting to further fine-tune Apptronik’s AI model before deploying the technology to a U.S. distribution center once ready.