The market for so-called robotic arms in warehousing and logistics is currently experiencing a period of very strong growth. Several major logistics companies are currently investing heavily in advanced robotic arms that, with the help of AI, computer vision, and sensors, can pick, pack, load, and handle an increasingly diverse range of products..
Earlier versions of robotic arms were best suited for highly specific, repetitive tasks in industry. Thanks to advances in AI, computer vision, and sensor technology, these robotic arms can now recognize thousands of different objects, adjust their grip, and make decisions in real time.
Will double the number of robotic arms by 2026
Amazon is the clear pioneer in this area as well, with the robots Sparrow and Cardinal, which have been manufactured since 2022 by its own robotics company, Amazon Robotics. Cardinal is a robotic arm that can independently lift, sort, and place packages weighing up to approximately 23 kg. Using AI and computer vision, Sparrow can identify, select, and pick individual products from a vast inventory. Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky revealed during an investor meeting on July 30 that the goal is to ”more than double the fleet of robotic arms, such as Cardinal and Sparrow, by 2026,” as part of its effort to increase automation with the goal of boosting efficiency in its distribution networks.
Loading Trailers
Another major player investing in robotic arms is FedEx, which is developing a solution for loading trailers. In partnership with the robotics company Dexterity, FedEx is implementing systems that automatically load packages into trailers—one of the most labor-intensive and difficult-to-automate activities in a logistics workflow. Over the next few years, FedEx plans to scale the solution to thousands of loading docks at 20 U.S. hubs. DHL has also heavily automated its operations in recent years and views robotic arms as an attractive solution. At some of the company’s facilities, robotic picking has increased productivity by about 30 percent.
Swedish Pioneers
In Sweden, Apotea is one of the companies that has begun using robotic arms in its warehouses. These include systems from Element Logic/RightHand Robotics, whose AI-based systems pick products from their AutoStore systems. Other Swedish companies that have gradually begun using this type of solution include Nowaste Logistics, IKEA, and H&M. As with all warehouse automation, factors such as labor shortages, the growth of e-commerce, advances in AI, and a commitment to a safe and healthy work environment are driving interest in robotic arms.
The Next Phase of Development: The Autonomous Warehouse
The next phase in this development is when all kinds of warehouse robots, including robotic arms, begin to operate in sophisticated coordination—like a symphony orchestra controlled by AI-based systems, cameras, sensors, advanced gripping tools, and digital twins of the warehouse. In this vision, the result will be a more or less autonomous warehouse where robots can retrieve, pick, pack, and load with minimal human intervention.
Is the vision within reach?
But before that happens, the technical solutions need to become better and more affordable. They need to be better at identifying objects, determining how to grasp them, how much they weigh, and where their center of gravity lies—all without damaging the product. Because even though AI and computer vision are making great strides, picking up varied, irregular, soft, or reflective objects remains a major challenge. Developing a robot that can pick the same wide variety of items as a human, with the same speed and reliability, remains a vision. No one can say for sure when this will become a reality, but experts believe it could happen within the next five to ten years.
