Powered by DHL Trend Research
ROBOTICS IN LOGISTICS
A DPDHL perspective on implications
and use cases for the logistics industry
March 2016
PUBLISHER
DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation
Represented by Matthias Heutger
Senior Vice President Strategy,
Marketing & Innovation
53844 Troisdorf, Germany
PROJECT DIRECTOR
Dr. Markus Kückelhaus
Vice President Innovation and Trend Research,
DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation
PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND EDITORIAL OFFICE
Denis Niezgoda
Project Manager Innovation and Trend Research,
DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation
IN COOPERATION WITH:
AUTHOR
Tom Bonkenburg
Director of European Operations
St. Onge Company
Deutsche Post DHL Group
Post - eCommerce - Parcel
Represented by Dr. Clemens Beckmann
Executive Vice President Innovation
53113 Bonn, Germany
Dr. Antje Huber
Vice President Innovation “Robotics“
Deutsche Post DHL Group
Post - eCommerce - Parcel
Heike Bischoff
Senior Expert Innovation “Robotics“
Deutsche Post DHL Group
Post - eCommerce - Parcel
Primed by scenarios from science fiction, as well as by
hype and wild speculation from the world’s media, we
have for many decades anticipated the era of robotics.
We are concerned that robots may steal our jobs and
spy on us. We imagine that they will arrive not in ones
and twos but in vast armies ready to alter forever life
as we know it.
The reality is, of course, quite different. Exciting as it is,
robotics technology seems to be arriving slowly but
surely in cautious and well-considered stages. Right
now robots are already among us. Personal robots
are busy cleaning inside our homes and helping to
maintain our gardens. Commercial robots are busy on
the manufacturing side of the supply chain, mostly in
the automotive sector. But where are all the robots
in the logistics environment Why are there so few
advanced robots working in our warehouses, helping
us to meet modern distribution challenges
This DHL trend report explores these questions in
detail. You will find that designing an advanced robot
is expensive and a significant technological challenge.
You will see that the distribution environment is
complicated and difficult to automate. But every day
there are breakthroughs in robotics, helping us to
overcome these challenges. Funding is pouring into
robotics research in unprecedented amounts from
unexceed sources. And there are both large enterprise
players and innovative startup companies focusing
for the first time on extending the role of robotics
beyond manufacturing and into the logistics side
of the supply chain.
In this report, we examine the current state of robotics
and automation in the logistics industry and offer a
visionary outlook of how our supply chains will be
transformed and improved by this emerging technology
trend. You will extend your understanding of collaborative
robotics with particular insights in the following areas:
Understanding robotics in logistics –
why is the time right to start investigating
Which leading technology trends are enabling
robotics solutions in logistics
What are some of the potential use cases in
the near future
How could robots change the world of logistics
in the far future
This report will prepare you for a new era of advanced
robots in logistics, and we hope it will ignite your
interest in the future of robotics. Enjoy the read!
Yours sincerely,
PREFACE
Dr. Markus Kückelhaus
Vice President Innovation
and Trend Research
DHL Customer Solutions &
Innovation
Dr. Clemens Beckmann
Executive Vice President
Innovation
Deutsche Post DHL Group
Post - eCommerce - Parcel (PeP)
PREFACE... 1
1 UNDERSTANDING ROBOTICS.......... 3
1.1 Robotics in Logistics: An Emerging Technology Trend3
1.2 Robotics in Logistics: Why Now ...... 4
1.3 History of Hype....... 6
1.4 What is Different Today..... 7
2 ENABLING TECHNOLOGY TRENDS.. 10
2.1 Eyes: Accurate and Low-Cost Perception...... 11
2.2 Hands: Manipulation and Collaboration....... 14
2.3 Feet: Mobility with Intelligence........ 16
2.4 Brains: Computational Power and Resource Sharing. 18
2.5 Exoskeletons: The Ultimate in Human Robotics Collaboration........... 21
3NEAR FUTURE – EXAMPLES IN LOGISTICS. 22
3.1 Current State of Robotics in Logistics22
3.2 Trailer and Container Unloading Robots....... 22
3.3 Stationary Piece Picking Robots....... 23
3.4 Mobile Piece Picking Robots 25
3.5 Co-Packing and Customization........ 26
3.6 Home Delivery Robots......... 27
4FUTURE VISION........ 28
4.1 Distribution Centers 28
4.2 Sorting Centers....... 30
4.3 Last-Mile Delivery... 32
CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK..... 34
SOURCES.. 35
Table of Contents2
1.1Robotics in Logistics: An Emerging
Technology Trend
As highlighted in the DHL Logistics Trend Radar, there
are several significant technology trends that will greatly
affect our future in a positive way. Examples include
sustainable energy, medical informatics, 3D printing, gene
sequencing, big data analytics, and self-driving cars. It is
easy to picture how advances in these areas will improve
our lives.
Another major technology trend that will have a profound
and positive impact on society is the development of
advanced robotics. Every day, innovative robots are
supporting doctors with surgeries that are less invasive
and safer to perform. In hospitals, robots work with
nurses to bring meals and medicines to patients without
delay. Robots are being designed to remove dangerous
landmines and support recovery from natural disasters
in ways that would be too risky for human beings.
Robots work together with factory employees to assemble
goods around the world with higher quality and at lower
cost. Personal robots are available to help us around our
homes by mowing the lawn, watering the garden, and
vacuuming the living room. Robotic prosthetics and
1 UNDERSTANDING ROBOTICS
Understanding Robotics3
Figure 1: Robots help people in dedicated areas of everyday life and work
“exoskeletons” help restore functions of amputees and
the elderly, allowing them to remain active in society.
These robots already advance our lives by eliminating
tasks that are dangerous, repetitive, tedious, or boring
and give us improved skills of accuracy, precision, and
strength. Robots enhance our productivity and allow
us to accomplish more each day even in a world where
the working population is getting older.
Up until now, robotics technology has not made a large
impact in the world of logistics. This is about to change
as advanced robots enter our warehouses, sorting centers,
and even help with final-mile delivery. Logistics workers
will benefit from collaborating with robots, while
customers will see faster service and higher quality.
Imagine a world where people can focus on work that
is meaningful and more enjoyable. Picture a world
where repetitive, tedious, or dangerous manual labor
is uncommon. Dream of a logistics supply chain that is
faster, safer, and more productive.
This DHL trend report gives an overview of the current
state of robotics in logistics, and offers a vision of how
our supply chains will be transformed and improved by
this exciting technology trend.
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