Jungheinrich is taking a stake in Munich, Germany-based robotics startup Magazino. With the investment, the intralogistics solutions provider aims to accelerate the development of its automated vehicles.
Automation is one of the biggest growth drivers within intralogistics. Jungheinrich expects this segment to show double-digit growth in the coming years. Contributing factors include the continuing strong growth of online trade combined with the global shortage of skilled logistics staff, especially forklift drivers. With its investment in Magazino, Jungheinrich is responding to this.
TORU
Magazino is a German start-up developing autonomous robots for warehouses. The company supplies two robots: the autonomous picking robot for small boxes TORU and the robot for supporting industrial production SOTO. TORU is capable of autonomously picking individual boxes from a warehouse and transporting them to a packing station. To do this, the robot does not use an infrastructure like conventional automated guided vehicles (AGV), but finds its way using 2D and 3D cameras, sensors, intelligent algorithms and Magazino's ACROS.AI operating system.
The robot uses a vacuum gripper to pick up boxes. These can be up to 390 x 290 x 145 mm (LxWxH) in size and weigh 5.8 kilograms. The gripper is placed on a telescopic arm, which also allows boxes on the top shelf to be reached. These boxes are then transported in a built-in storage compartment, where up to 16 can be transported simultaneously.
SOTO
The SOTO is a mobile robot that supports industrial production. The system is designed to supply production systems with just-in-team materials. The robot can be operational for up to 20 hours a day and works completely autonomously. Magazino claims that by doing so, SOTO not only makes production processes more efficient, but also significantly cheaper. Like TORU, SOTO finds its way using cameras, sensors and software.
The company will launch the second generation of the SOTO next year. Compared to the first generation, it features, among other things, increased transport capacity, omnidirectional drive and improved driving behaviour.
ACROS.AI
Both TORU and SOTO use ACROS.AI, an operating system for mobile robots developed by Magazino. The startup describes this system as the "brain of the robots of the future". ACROS.AI stands for 'Advanced Cooperative Robot Operating System, powered by A.I.'. The software toolkit is intended for 'cooperative robots in uncertain and dynamic environments'.
The software is modular and consists of configurable apps based on industry standards. The toolkit is aimed at manufacturers of robots and AGVs, and allows them to compile software for these devices. "Magazino is a young, highly innovative company that has excellent experience in navigation and control software for mobile automation. This investment is in line with our automation strategy. It will help accelerate our efforts in terms of expanding our automated vehicles," said Dr Lars Brzoska, chairman of Jungheinrich's Board of Management.
Established player
Jungheinrich is an established player in the AGV market; the company launched its first AGV in 1962. The company currently supplies several AGVs, including the electric pallet truck ERE 225a, autonomous stacker ERC 215a and the electric tractor EZS 350a. Other AGVs include the order picker EKS 215a and the EKX 516a and ETX 515a for narrow aisles.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
