Reflex Robot: US logistics company GXO deploys another humanoid robot
Humanoid robot Reflex Bot from Reflex Robotics will soon be working for US logistics company GXO. The company already has two other humanoid robots in use.
A Reflex Robot works at GXO.
(Image: GXO Logistics)
After Digit from Agility Robotics and Apollo from Apptronic, the US logistics company GXO Logistics wants to use another humanoid robot in real-time operation with the Reflex Robot general-purpose robot from Reflex Robotics. The company has announced that it has entered into a cooperation with Reflex Robotics to use Reflex Robot as part of Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS).
Strictly speaking, Reflex Robot is not a humanoid robot, but a partially humanoid robot. An upper body with head and arms that can be moved up and down a mast sits on a mobile platform on wheels. Such robots are cheaper to manufacture than humanoid robots with a fully mobile upper body and legs, but can only be used on comparatively flat surfaces. In logistics, in halls with a flat floor, this should therefore work well. The robot hardware itself is expected to cost less than 50,000 US dollars. However, the price is set to fall. However, fees will be charged for its use.
According to GXO, the Reflex Robot is a system that is ready for immediate use. It should take around 60 minutes before the robot is ready to learn a new task. The robot learns this remotely via human demonstrations of an activity. Over time, it should then be able to carry out the tasks autonomously. The all-purpose robot can seamlessly perform various tasks, such as transporting containers or picking work, as required.
Robots to compensate for staff shortages
First, however, GXO wants to evaluate possible tasks within the company. In the "Operational Incbator" program, the company will work with developers and prepare the Reflex robot for various tasks at GXO. The logistics company's aim is to use the robot throughout the company. The aim is to compensate for capacity bottlenecks among employees. In addition, the Reflex Robot is intended to relieve employees and free up capacity for more demanding tasks.
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GXO is already using humanoid robots in the company. It started with Digit from Agility Robotics, which performs simple warehouse tasks and is probably the first robot to be used commercially in a company on a permanent basis. The humanoid robot Apollo from Apptronic, which is to be used for heavy, repetitive, mindless tasks in warehouses at GXO, is probably not quite as far along yet. GXO announced in June that its use is a proof of concept and that the robot still needs to be trained for tasks.
(olb)