Zebra is acquiring the other 95% of Fetch Robotics. Zebra Technologies already owned 5% of Fetch Robotics through an earlier investment. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions. | Image credit: Fetch Roboticsįetch Robotics, a San Jose, Calif.-based developer of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for logistics, has been acquired by Lincolnshire, Ill.-based Zebra Technologies for $290 million.
We have about 18 roboticists on staff.Fetch Robotics has an AMR portfolio with payloads between 100 kg – 1500 kg.
#FETCH ROBOTICS SOFTWARE#
Fulfillment Edge is making them much more efficient while they’re picking while they’re in the aisle.ĬF: Fetch Robotics is focused on both the hardware and software?īP: We have the robots and the software on the robots. The robots essentially keep the associates in the aisle picking and being more productive, rather than just moving things.
#FETCH ROBOTICS FULL#
And that cart could be an empty one, or it could be a partially full one from a different area.īP: It allows the associates, who may spend half their time moving in between aisles, to remain in an aisle. When the associate is close to the end of the picks, Fulfillment Edge sends an autonomous mobile robot with the next cart. And then they’ll start picking to it based on what they see from the Zebra headset display. The cart will typically have some sort of totes or orders on it or something like that. So, one robot can handle between three to four carts. The other thing that we are working with Zebra on with Fulfillment Edge is orchestrating associates and the robots.ĬF: How does it orchestrate people and robots?īP: Our Cart Connect solution moves the carts around.
#FETCH ROBOTICS SERIAL#
It’s a much more efficient way than with serial pick paths with one person picking an order.
If they’re picking for six orders, they can essentially pick down one aisle and get everything for those six orders. That way, you can essentially optimize the pick path for each of the pickers. What follows is a synopsis, edited for clarity.Ĭhannel Futures: What does Zebra’s Fulfillment Edge bring to your autonomous mobile robot solution that you didn’t already have?īarry Phillips: Fulfillment Edge can take a list of SKUs across multiple orders and then assign those to different pickers. Phillips discussed the near-term opportunity for the company and partners to use autonomous mobile robots to advance supply chain automation. Afterward, Channel Futures reached out to Phillips, who explained why Fetch Robotics and Zebra are working together. Both companies described the partnership last week.Īmong those participating in the discussion was Fetch Robotics CMO Barry Phillips. Among other things, Fetch Robotics will use Zebra’s recently launched Fulfillment Edge optimization software to manage its mobile robots. Earlier investors include O’Reilly AlphaTech Ventures, Shasta Ventures, SoftBank Capital and Sway Ventures.įetch Robotics last month partnered with Zebra Technologies. Fort Ross Ventures raised the round with CEAS Investments, Redwood Technologies, TransLink Capital and Zebra Ventures. Overall, the company has raised $94 million.
#FETCH ROBOTICS SERIES#
Last summer, Fetch Robotics raised $46 million in a Series C round of funding. DHL, Ryder and Universal Logistics are among those that have deployed AMRs from Fetch Robotics. Founded in 2014, CEO Melonee Wise was the second employee at Willow Garage, an R&D lab influential in advancing robotics. Last week, we reported that autonomous mobile robot suppliers are seeing a surge in demand.Īmong those beneficiaries is Fetch Robotics, regarded as a leading supplier of autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs. Time will tell whether supply chain shortages from the COVID-19 pandemic will hasten the deployment of robots in warehouses.
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