VIDEO: New Boston Dynamics Robot 'Stretch' Moves Boxes, Unpacks Spot
WALTHAM (CBS) -- Boston Dynamics is debuting a new robot with a simple objective: Move boxes. "Stretch" is the Waltham-based company's first foray into warehouse automation.
"The multi-purpose mobile robot is designed to tackle a number of tasks where rapid box moving is required, first starting with truck unloading and later expanding into order building," Boston Dynamics said in a statement. "Stretch's technology builds upon Boston Dynamics' decades of advancements in robotics to create a flexible, easily-integrated solution that can work in any warehouse to increase their flow of goods, improve employee safety in physically difficult tasks and lower expensive fixed automation costs."
Stretch has an omni-directional base to get around loading docks, a lightweight arm and a "smart-gripper" to handle a variety of boxes. A video from the company released Monday shows Stretch quickly moving boxes around lifting the company's robot dog "Spot" out of one box.
Boston Dynamics said it hopes Stretch can be used to tackle the most "injury-prone" tasks as more and more people order items for delivery online. Stretch is expected to be released commercially in 2022.