DHL has successfully run a pilot test incorporating robot technology for collaborative automated order picking at a supply warehouse in Unna, Germany. The robot—EffiBOT, from the French start-up Effidence—is a fully automated trolley that follows pickers throughout the warehouse and takes care of most of the physical work. It is specifically designed to work safely with and around people.

Use of the robot allowed warehouse staff the option to work hands-free without pushing or pulling heavy carts. Image credit: DHL. During the test, two robots supported the pickers by carrying the weight and automatically dropping off the orders once fully loaded. Use of the robot allowed warehouse staff the option to work hands-free without pushing or pulling heavy carts.

“The picking cart follows the picker through the rack system. Once it reaches full capacity, the picker simply sends it to the designated drop-off location, while another picking cart joins. This solution makes moving from single- to multi-order picking a more efficient and ergonomic process," says Michael Artinger, site manager, DHL Supply Chain, who was responsible for the test.

According to DHL, a common challenge in today’s logistics sector is the high frequency of picking processes in smaller entities due to reduced inventories and increased online shopping. In a non-automated setting, manual pickers are confronted with heavy carts and high payloads restricting the picker to single-order picking and forcing them to walk longer distances.

In addition to EffiBOT, DHL will also be testing collaborative robots for value-added services such as co-packing, as well as mobile piece-picking robots that autonomously navigate through warehouse shelves.