Mujin last week announced the launch of TruckBot, a robot designed to unload up to 1,000 cases per hour from trucks and shipping containers. The robot os making its debut at ProMat 2023 in Chicago.
“TruckBot is a game-changer for warehouses looking to streamline their operations and reduce costs,” stated Ross Diankov, CEO of Mujin. “The dock door is the largest bottleneck in our supply chain, and unloading trailers is back-breaking work. TruckBot will improve safety and effectiveness for warehouses across the globe while unlocking the possibility for true fully-autonomous operations.”
Mujin said it develops “machine intelligent” robot controllers that are designed as a common platform for industrial and collaborative robots specializing in logistics and other pick-and-place applications. Launched in Tokyo in 2011 with offices in China and operating in the U.S. at Mujin Corp., the company said it works with many of the world’s largest businesses to make material handling applications easier to deploy, more accurate, and less costly.
The company said its flagship product, the MujinController, uses machine intelligence technology to give robots real-time decision-making ability for truly autonomous, reliable, and production-capable robot applications.
TruckBot can handle mixed-SKU loads
TruckBot is a robot with an unconventional form, according to Mujin. The robot was built to address the challenges presented by the unloading process of floor-loaded trailers and containers employed at most warehouses and distribution centers, said the company.
Mujin said it designed TruckBot to attach to standard telescoping conveyors found at many existing loading docks. It reaches up to 52 ft. into the truck trailer or shipping container. TruckBot can handle boxes weighing up to 50 lb., including containers with packing complexities and mixed-SKU loads, it claimed.
The MujinController enables TruckBot to work autonomously, planning the most efficient paths and movements while minimizing idle time and maximizing productivity, said Mujin.
“The MujinController software is what makes TruckBot truly special,” said Diankov. “It enables the robot to operate independently, without the need for manual intervention or oversight, and to make smart decisions about how to optimize its movements and picking strategies.”
Mujin to demonstrate at ProMat
In Mujin’s exhibit at ProMat, TruckBot will collaborate with a Mujin palletizing robot to sort the cases to pallets for storage. Autonomous vehicles will then transport the pallets back to a depalletizing location to reset the cycle.
“TruckBot is the game-changer that the industry has been waiting for,” said Diankov. “It is a solution we have been developing for over six years, and we are excited to bring this innovative product to ProMat 2023 and showcase its abilities to the world.”
ProMat 2023, one of the largest material handling and supply chain trade shows in North America, will take place from March 20 to 23 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Mujin and TruckBot wil be at Booth N7568.
Editor's note: For more about ProMat, visit Robotics 24/7's special coverage page.
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