Kroger will implement advanced picking technologies from its long-time partner Ocado Group at fulfillment centers across its network, including greater use of robotics in preparing customer orders. Kroger, which has been working with Ocado since 2018, will implement these “Re:imagined” technologies across multiple current fulfillment centers as well as future facilities.
The new solutions include On-Grid Robotic Pick (OGRP), a robotic arm installed directly on the grid. Bots operating on the grid deposit stock next to the robot arms to be packed into customer bags. Since Ocado retail partners can stock up to 50,000 different products each, the robot arms need to be capable of handling a huge variety of weights, sizes, shapes, surfaces, fragility levels and packaging. Use of advanced machine vision, deep reinforcement learning and sensing capabilities enable the OGPR to pick tens of thousands of products and pack them densely into bags with precision.
Additionally, Ocado’s Automated Frameload (AFL) automates a physically demanding job: loading prepared customer orders in delivery totes onto delivery frames, ready for dispatch. Computer vision examines both the tote and the frame, forms an understanding of dimensions and shape of the tote and enables alignment with the frame, making direction adjustments in real time to push the tote in.
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