Cainiao Upgrades Warehouse Climbing Robot, Lifts Efficiency 15%

Chinese logistics technology firm Cainiao has rolled out an upgraded version of its warehouse climbing robot, saying the changes raise operating efficiency by 15 percent and storage density by 20 percent, trade publication Robotics & Automation News reported on Thursday (Nov 12).

The company showed the self-developed system at the recent CeMAT Asia event, presenting four-side item retrieval, double-deep storage, a new robot scheduling system and a warehouse planning simulation tool.

What the upgrade does

According to the report, standard systems in the industry usually pick goods from only two sides. Cainiao’s robot, once it has climbed onto a rack, can reach bins on four sides, covering the front and back on either side of an aisle.

The robot can also reach bins stored in an inner layer. Cainiao said this allows double-deep storage, helping warehouses use space more fully while needing fewer climbing tracks.

Its dispatch software has also been revised so the robot moves in smoother S-shaped turns instead of right-angle turns, which the company said improves efficiency without disrupting normal warehouse work.

AI planning tool for customers

Cainiao is also making a warehouse planning simulation system available to customers. Users enter warehouse dimensions and order volumes and receive an AI-generated layout, equipment selection and a simulated trial run in as little as 10 minutes, a process the company said normally takes days.

The tool is meant to let customers draw up layouts themselves and quickly assess the investment and expected returns before deployment.

The upgraded system targets operations with many product lines, heavy inbound and outbound flows or irregular sites, serving sectors such as cross-border e-commerce, footwear and fashion, consumer electronics, fast-moving consumer goods, healthcare and automotive manufacturing.

Overseas orders and what’s next

The climbing robot has secured orders in Vietnam, the Netherlands and Spain, with the Dutch and Spanish projects now being delivered. Cainiao also unveiled an international model that it said meets standards in the European Union, the United States and other markets.

Xu Ming, general manager of Cainiao Logistics Technology’s robotics division in the Americas and Europe, said the company had delivered several flagship projects and won new orders in key markets since launching the robot in April.

Bi Jianghua, president of Cainiao Logistics Technology, said the company remains bullish on logistics robotics and is raising investment in the area to speed up expansion in key global markets.

Cainiao Logistics Technology, which focuses on logistics robotics and supply chain AI, operates in 29 countries and has deployed more than 1,100 logistics technology projects for over 400 customers, including 26 Fortune Global 500 companies, according to the report.

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