Compared to the cool design of the Spot and Atlas, the Stretch looks relatively dull, not imitating humans or animals, but aiming to be as practical as possible. A giant robotic arm with seven degrees of freedom, and an array of end suction cups that can grip and move up to 23 kg of box weight.
Overall, one of the outstanding features of Stretch is its mobility. Normally, when automated equipment is installed in a warehouse, the system follows a pattern that repeats the set of movements. Stretch, however, is able to move within the confines of any workplace where loading or unloading of goods may exist.
The implication is that Stretch can serve environments without an automated infrastructure, including warehouse logistics and distribution centers. “For example, users can use this capability to transport goods to a truck loading and unloading location, move them into an aisle somewhere, or move them next to a conveyor belt.” said Michael Perry, vice president of business development at Boston Dynamics.
Boston Dynamics said the robot is aimed at companies that would otherwise be unable to automate their operations due to high Time or input costs. According to its statistics, about 80% of the world’s warehouses do not have any automation equipment, which obviously has a considerable potential market space. However, since Stretch does not give pricing right now, using robots may not be very cost-effective for those companies with lower profit margins.
It is worth noting that in 2019, Boston Dynamics also acquired Kinema Systems, a company that provides computer vision capabilities for warehouse robots, and the incorporation of this capability also allows Stretch to quickly identify bins without the need for training. Later, Boston Dynamics also designed a wheeled robot called Handle, which can use a robotic arm to move boxes.
Perry says Handle has the “right path of motion” in a warehouse environment, but doesn’t work fast enough. The robot’s arm is fixed directly to the body, which causes the entire machine to have to move with each load. In contrast, Stretch’s arm is concealed within its square base and can therefore rotate freely.
It is said that this base can withstand the inertial force of the arm plus the weight of the swinging box, without having to rely on the weight of thousands of pounds of steel plates fixed to the ground.
At the same time, Stretch also inherited some advantageous features of Atlas, the robot can maintain balance, which in turn can be smooth movement, jumping and even backflips and so on. “Atlas pick up the box set of movements, not just to extend the arms and move just, but also in the coordination of the hips, legs and torso. This design thinking is actually all incorporated into Stretch.”
As a result, Boston Dynamics claims that Stretch can move 800 boxes per hour, with a throughput rate comparable to that of humans. Meanwhile, the high-capacity battery means Stretch can work for up to eight hours at a time and can continue to recharge.
However, this throughput rate is still somewhat questionable. Because in real-world operations, space tends to vary greatly and it’s very difficult for robots to work in a warehouse. And the daily volume of goods in the warehouse is variable, which means that the robot’s workflow can change from day to day. And flexibility is usually valued. Until now, machines have not been able to adapt to these challenges. Because this also requires regularity to be achieved for the entire warehouse operation, allowing the machine to adapt more easily.
Boston Dynamics said Stretch has more than 150,000 units worldwide and is currently looking for customers to pilot test Stretch, with the goal of bringing it to market in 2022.
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