Boston Dynamics has unveiled Stretch Gen 2, an updated model of its autonomous mobile robot designed to unload boxes from freight containers and trailers, The Robot Report reported.
The Waltham, Massachusetts-based manufacturer redesigned the robot to simplify maintenance and cut downtime. The company removed 81% of internal cabling, about 800 metres of wire, and incorporated automotive-grade latching connectors sourced with help from parent company Hyundai. The new machine features continuous-rotation arm joints that turn past 360 degrees, a lower emergency stop button, and revised exterior panels that resist accidental impacts from falling boxes.
The upgraded vacuum gripper senses and actuates each suction cup individually, allowing the arm to pick multiple boxes in one motion and place them in sequence onto a conveyor. The robot runs on a battery rated for two shifts and can recharge to 90% in around 75 minutes. Boston Dynamics said standardized fasteners now allow a full swerve-drive swap in one hour, down from a full day on the first generation.
Brian Donnelly, the company's vice president and general manager of logistics robotics, said development took about two and a half years and units have already been sent to several customer sites. "When we made the first generation of Stretch, we were focused on trying to get a product out into the market as fast as possible and really get it in customers' hands and get it operational," he said.
Also reported by iRobotNews
