From 2018's Watch Out Ocado: "7 Warehouse Robots for Retail Automation":
After Amazon bought Kiva Systems and their utilitarian orange automated guided vehicles in 2012 folks really glommed onto the idea that "Saaay, there might be something to this robotic warehouse stuff."...
And from AgFunder News, November 3, 2020:
Ocado spends $287m in retail robotics double-swoop
UK e-grocer and retail tech firm Ocado has bullishly revved up its quarterly profit forecasts and unveiled two acquisitions aimed at strengthening its showing in robotics.
The Hertfordshire company says it is buying San Francisco-based Kindred Systems, which designs picking and packing robots for online fulfillment centers, for a hefty $262 million. It is also scooping up Las Vegas-based robot arm company Haddington Dynamics for a comparatively grounded $25 million. Both deals are subject to US regulatory approval.
“We consider the opportunities for robotic manipulation solutions to be significant, both for [our software platform] clients and across the fast-growing online retail and logistics sectors,” said Ocado CEO Tim Steiner during an earnings call to analysts.
Steiner said the company has “made meaningful progress in developing the machine learning, computer vision, and engineering systems required” for robotic online retail, but added that the acquisitions are intended to “accelerate the development” of the company’s robot picking solutions, including “improving their speed, accuracy, product range, and economics.”
Kindred robotic spirits
Kindred and Haddington, according to Steiner, could bring opportunities to enter new markets for robotic solutions outside of grocery “across the general merchandise and logistics sectors.”...
....MUCH MORE
Related:Warehousing Logistics: "Lille-based Exotec raises €77.1 million to support the international expansion of its warehouse robotics solutions"
French Robot Logistics Startup Scallog Secures New Funds
"In 2012 Jeff Bezos scooped up warehouse automation firm Kiva. Everyone else is still trying to catch up" (AMZN)
