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CEVA, the warehousing and logistics arm of French container liner CMA CGM, plans to use robots from U.S. firm Boston Dynamics at a new transload facility near the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the biggest import gateways for the U.S. consumer market. <\/p>\n
The transload facility was built for sorting packages at high speed. It will be among the first in the U.S. to employ Boston Dynamics' robots for package-handling, Stretch. <\/p>\n
The Stretch robot is purpose-built for unloading non-palletized shipping containers, even when the boxes inside have fallen over, according to Boston Dynamics. With little direction, it can enter a container, pick up boxes weighing up to 50 pounds with its suction-cup arm, and set them gently on a conveyor. The 2022 production run sold out with purchases from trial-phase customers like DHL, and the first commercial units have already moved more than one million boxes. At some customer sites, Stretch robots are handling all inbound floor-loaded containers, according to the manufacturer. <\/p>\n
Early adopters say that they like the robot because it doesn't need breaks, works in all weather conditions and isn't susceptible to injuries from handling high-stacked heavy boxes. With a 16-hour battery pack, it can work two shifts before recharging. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
With the addition of Stretch, CEVA hopes to process 50,000 floor-loaded containers a year at the Los Angeles plant within three years of opening. <\/p>\n
CEVA is also buying Boston Dynamics' famous robotic dog, Spot, for security patrols at the Los Angeles facility. The quadrupedal robot can carry a variety of payloads and with more than 1,000 sold, it has become a familiar sight in some industries. <\/p>\n
\nSee Spot® in action!#RoboticDog<\/a> Spot® from @BostonDynamics<\/a> is on patrol at our new CEVA LA facility.<\/p>\n
With its keen eyes and heat sensors, it ensures top-notch security 24\/7.#CEVALogistics<\/a> #BostonDynamics<\/a> #Innovation<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tAvgPWNByX<\/a><\/p>\n
— CEVA Logistics (@cevalogistics) October 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n