AI-powered vision technology is enabling KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Robot to place apparel packaged in polybags into sorter pockets for GXO Logistics at its fashion e-commerce warehouse in Tilburg, the Netherlands.
GXO Logistics, the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, is reaping the benefits of AI-boosted robotic handling for one of its key global customers in collaboration with KNAPP. The Pick-it-Easy Robot has proven its worth in fulfilment applications across many industry sectors but the installation for GXO marks the first use of this technology for automated pocket induction in fashion logistics.
The polywrap challenge
The apparel and e-commerce sectors have traditionally held a number of challenges for logistics automation. Not only does the range of fashion goods continuously change through the seasons with huge variety in product size, shape, texture and weight, but many items are packed in polybags. Due to the floppy and reflective nature of plastic film, robots find it difficult to determine the perfect grip point and handle items reliably. Yet in omnichannel and e-commerce fulfilment, robots are the perfect solution for loading goods into sorter pockets, since warehouse staff often find this work monotonous. In addition, labour availability issues and rising wages are making automation of such tasks ever more attractive.
Powerful camera system
The robot at GXO is successfully picking textiles in polywrap from totes and loading items into pockets fully automatically. The Pick-it-Easy Robot features leading-edge AI and a powerful camera system. This means that the robot excels in tasks such as 3D perception, few-shot learning and real-time motion planning, enabling it to learn how to handle unfamiliar items very rapidly.
Optimal grip point
The AI-based object recognition enables the robot to identify the optimal gripping point and speed for each product. After selecting an item from a tote, the robot drops it gently onto a glass chute, where multiple scanners gather item information from its barcodes. The item slides onto a conveyor, which transfers it to a chute that loads it into a pocket, ready for fully automatic sequencing by a pocket sorter system. During this transfer process, the item is allocated to the pocket, which is traceable due to its RFID chip. The solution also features a sophisticated retry function, allowing any items not successfully scanned to be picked up by the robot from the conveyor and dropped onto the glass chute again.
More robots planned
GXO plans to expand the automation at its Tilburg facility with an additional four robots. “Providing our customers with the best innovations to change the game in their logistics and e-commerce operations is what we are about,” commented Mauro Ungheretti, Managing Director Netherlands, Belgium and Germany for GXO Logistics. “We are excited to use the first application of the Pick-it-Easy Robot technology for apparel logistics in our warehouse in the Netherlands.”
Ideal for peaks
Combining brains and brawn – intelligence and high performance – KNAPP’s Pick-it-Easy Robot offers reliable and efficient handling with minimised error costs. The technology is ideal for loading pockets with super-fast-moving or discounted items or for handling returns efficiently, especially during peak periods such as Black Friday. If desired, the solution can be financed through a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.
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