FedEx Uses Robots to Automatically Load, Pack Trucks

FedEx and Dexterity AI are collaborating to use robots to help alleviate truck loading challenges.

Using Dexterity AI’s technology, the robots can “pack trailers with stable, dense walls of randomized boxes,” according to the company. 

The company unveiled its AI-powered robotics truck loading capability earlier this week at the “Unlock the Dock” event in San Francisco.

Rebecca Yeung, FedEx corporate vice president of Operations Science and Advanced Technologies, said the company’s innovation is driven by a desire to help FedEx team members and customers succeed. 

“Based on feedback from our operations team, we have been looking for a solution that helps alleviate the challenges of truck loading,” Yeung said. “Collaborating with Dexterity AI to combine the latest in AI and robotics supports our operations team while meeting growing customer demand.”

DexR, Dexterity AI’s mobile robot design allows for autonomous navigation to the back of trailers while connecting to a conveyor system that feeds the boxes to the robot from the sorting system. 

The system includes generative wall planning allowing the robot to quickly assess the area it is packing, machine learning-based pack improvement to ensure more efficiency as more boxes are picked, a sense of touch allowing the robots to know how to gently move an item and integrated motion planning to keep robots from colliding with each other or truck walls. 

Related:FedEx to Test Autonomous Cargo Deliveries

“FedEx shares our belief that innovation should solve the most difficult tasks in operations,” said Samir Menon, founder and CEO of Dexterity AI. “Our collaboration is driven by a vision of AI-powered robotics that is adaptable to our customer’s most pressing needs.” 

FedEx is now testing the system ahead of commercial deployment.