Robotics and AutomationRobotics and Automation
  • News
      • Aeronautics
      • Aerospace
      • Agriculture
      • AGVs
      • AI
      • AMRs
      • Assembly
      • Automotive
      • Aviation
      • Cobots
      • Construction
      • Cosmetics
      • Defence
      • Deliveries
      • F&B
      • Facilities
      • Funding
      • Healthcare
      • Industrial
      • Infrastructure
      • Life sciences
      • Logistics
      • Machine vision
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine
      • Packaging
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Product
      • R&D
      • Retail
      • RPA
      • Security
      • Services
      • Sport
      • Sustainability
      • Transportation
      • Unmanned systems
      • Warehousing
  • Features
  • Digital Magazines
    • May 2023
    • March 2023
    • October 2022
    • July 2022
    • April 2022
  • Corporate Insight
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • Comment
  • Case Studies
  • Events
LinkedIn Twitter
  • Subscribe to Weekly Newsletter
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Robotics & Automation Awards
  • Robotics and Automation Exhibition
LinkedIn Twitter
Robotics and AutomationRobotics and Automation
SUBSCRIBE >
  • News
      • Aeronautics
      • Aerospace
      • Agriculture
      • AGVs
      • AI
      • AMRs
      • Assembly
      • Automotive
      • Aviation
      • Cobots
      • Construction
      • Cosmetics
      • Defence
      • Deliveries
      • F&B
      • Facilities
      • Funding
      • Healthcare
      • Industrial
      • Infrastructure
      • Life sciences
      • Logistics
      • Machine vision
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine
      • Packaging
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Product
      • R&D
      • Retail
      • RPA
      • Security
      • Services
      • Sport
      • Sustainability
      • Transportation
      • Unmanned systems
      • Warehousing
  • Features
  • Digital Magazines
    1. November 2023
    2. July 2023
    3. May 2023
    4. March 2023
    5. October 2022
    6. July 2022
    Featured

    Robotics & Automation – November 2023

    November 1, 2023By John Thornton
    Recent
    November 1, 2023

    Robotics & Automation – November 2023

    July 5, 2023

    Robotics & Automation – July 2023

    May 5, 2023

    Robotics & Innovation – May 2023

  • Corporate Insight
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • Comment
  • Case Studies
  • Events
    • Robotics & Automation Awards
    • Robotics & Automation Exhibition
Robotics and AutomationRobotics and Automation
LinkedIn Twitter
Logistics

Otto Group and Covariant to deploy ‘hundreds’ of AI-powered picking robots across Europe

Ursula O’Sullivan-DaleBy Ursula O’Sullivan-DaleMay 11, 20233 Mins Read
LinkedIn Twitter Email Facebook

The Otto Group (Otto), one of Europe’s largest online retailers, has announced a new long-term strategic partnership with Covariant, an artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics company.

Covariant’s AI-powered robots will be used to automate several of Otto’s fulfilment centres, with specific applications including those that require hand-eye coordination and object manipulation.

One of the main objectives of the agreement is to improve Otto Group’s customer services and enhance its digitalisation capabilities. Some of the other strategic goals include building resilience against labour market challenges and increasing operational efficiency and delivery times.

The Covariant robots are designed to autonomously handle unexpected fulfilment scenarios that have previously limited picking automation, including the processing of changing products without having to pre-program data.

What’s more, all Covariant robots have been developed to learn collaboratively, regardless of where they have been deployed, to allow them to learn as a fleet. This, their developers claim, ensures that learnings and operational improvements will be automatically shared across the entire Otto Group network.

“Logistics faces the challenge of being as cost-efficient as possible,” said Kay Schiebur, member of the Executive Board, services, at the Otto Group.

“The use of a generalist AI allows us to rethink processes that were not possible before and provides an answer to the massive shortage of workers.

“In times when handling is often outsourced to cheaper locations, we are especially happy to continue to be close to our customers and strengthen the European, and especially German business location. The use of AI will be a key success factor in logistics in the future.”

Covariant delivers robotic picking, placing and sorting solutions powered by the Covariant Brain, which it describes as a universal AI platform that enables robots to see, think and act.

“This is a huge step forward for the automation of Europe’s e-commerce market as it represents one of the largest investments in a foundation model for robotics to date,” said Peter Chen, CEO, Covariant.

“We’re honoured that Kay and team recognise the importance of developing a universal AI for robot learning and we look forward to delivering the operational improvements that will help maintain Otto Group’s market-leading position for years to come.

“In times of a challenging market environment, it is essential that future investments do not fall by the wayside. We invest here and now in our future viability to strengthen our position as a market leader in Europe.”

Through the new partnership, the pair plans to deploy hundreds of Covariant’s AI-powered robotic solutions across all Otto Group fulfilment centres, with installations set to begin this year in Germany at the Haldensleben and Altenkunstadt facilities.

Share. LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email
Ursula O’Sullivan-Dale

Ursula joined Akabo Media in June 2022. She has worked in written communications since graduating in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin in 2021, before transitioning into digital publishing. She is currently Editor of Robotics & Automation Magazine and Assistant Editor of City Transport & Traffic Innovation. She is responsible for keeping both sites updated with the latest news in the robotics and sustainable transport sectors, producing in-depth insight into essential industry topics through long-form features and supporting the production of both titles’ print issues.

Related Stories

Sick launches data insights platform for Industry 4.0 processes

November 30, 2023

Quicktron and Romanian firm collaborate on end-to-end robotics solutions

November 29, 2023

Movu Robotics and KPI partner on custom warehouse automation

November 29, 2023
Latest News Stories
December 4, 2023

Pepperl+Fuchs launches ‘flexible’ push button box for industrial automation

December 4, 2023

Premier League to evaluate use of semi-automated offside technology

November 30, 2023

US lab tests humanoid robot’s range of motion through boxing

November 30, 2023

Sick launches data insights platform for Industry 4.0 processes

Get the 'best of the week' from Robotics & Automation direct to your inbox every week, for free!


Key Sections
  • News
  • Features
  • Digital Magazines
  • Video
  • Corporate Insight
  • Case Studies
  • Events
Akabo Media
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Free Weekly E-Newsletter
Our Events
  • CiTTi Awards
  • IntraLogisteX
  • Robotics & Automation Awards
  • Robotics and Automation Exhibition
  • Road User Charging Conference Asia Pacific
  • Road User Charging Conference Brussels
  • Road User Charging Conference USA
  • Supply Chain Excellence Awards
© 2023 Akabo Media Ltd Registered No 07766641 England | All rights reserved.
Registered Office: Akabo Media, GG.007, Metal Box Factory, 30 Great Guildford St, SE1 0HS
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to browse our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Cookie settingsOK
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieDurationDescription
_ga1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognise unique visitors.
_ga_*1 year 1 month 4 daysGoogle Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.
CONSENT2 yearsYouTube sets this cookie via embedded YouTube videos and registers anonymous statistical data.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
CookieDurationDescription
OAID1 yearCookie set to record whether the user has opted out of the collection of information by the AdsWizz Service Cookies.
test_cookie15 minutesdoubleclick.net sets this cookie to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysYouTube sets this cookie to measure bandwidth, determining whether the user gets the new or old player interface.
YSCsessionYoutube sets this cookie to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages.
yt-remote-connected-devicesneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt-remote-device-idneverYouTube sets this cookie to store the user's video preferences using embedded YouTube videos.
yt.innertube::nextIdneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
yt.innertube::requestsneverYouTube sets this cookie to register a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo