Rossmann tests first humanoid robot in logistics

Perform physically unpleasant and unergonomic tasks easily and almost without a break: What the Chinese company UBTech promises with its humanoid robot Walker S2, it is now to prove in the logistics of the drugstore chain Rossmann.

As the company, headquartered in Burgwedel, announces, the humanoid is to be tested on-site for one year in a pilot project. The robot is intended to provide support, particularly with repetitive and physically unergonomic tasks, thereby relieving the workload of employees in logistics.

Walker S2 changes batteries itself

In several project phases, Rossmann is testing how it can be integrated into existing logistics processes – from initial use-case scenarios, through gradual practical implementation, to evaluating a possible expansion. The Walker S2 can change its battery independently and has been specially developed for industrial and logistical applications. The batteries are designed as a double battery system, allowing one of the batteries to be replaced during operation. One battery provides energy for two hours of continuous running or about four hours of standing work.

UBTech promises that the Walker S2 will independently recognize when its energy is running low and when a battery change is necessary to continue performing certain tasks. This allows the robot to last longer and work completely autonomously. The goal is for such humanoid robots to be usable around the clock in manufacturing or services.

Practical test

“We are aware that there is a lot of hype surrounding humanoid robotics currently – which is precisely why we want to find out early on, based on our own experiences, what actually works in everyday life and where the limits lie,” explains Hendrik van Duuren, Head of Logistics at Rossmann, in a press release. For this purpose, Rossmann is now testing, for example, how the Walker S2 can be meaningfully integrated into its own processes, what IT infrastructure is required for this, and how quickly new applications can be programmed. “At the same time, we are closely observing how our colleagues experience the collaboration with the robot,” he adds.

Rossmann wants to realistically assess the practical benefits for its own logistics. The one-year test is also intended to serve as a basis for a long-term viable, scalable deployment concept for humanoid robotics in Rossmann logistics.

(nen)