Chinese autonomous mobile robot (AMR) company Geek+ has launched what it claims is the warehouse industry’s highest robot arm.

The eight-metre-high RoboShuttle RS8-DA is flexible arm robot to help managers increase the use of their warehouses.

RoboShuttle is said to be a safe, efficient and flexible high-density product that helps solve complex logistics problems brought on by the rise in ecommerce and the need for systems that can optimise precious warehouse space intelligently. Compatible with 8m-high racks, and totes, cartons or boxes of varying width, the robot can improve space use fivefold.

“With ecommerce and warehouse rental spikes, businesses need flexibility and space utilisation that traditional automation does not provide,” said Liu Kai, vice president of smart warehouse products at Geek+. “Our engineering teams are continuously developing innovations to meet this demand and allow our clients to remain competitive while providing a safe working environment to their employees.”

Built on a slim and robust chassis, flexible doorframe, and double deep telescopic fork arms, the robot can navigate narrow aisles and reach a maximum height of 8145mm. Using its fork arms, it can access the inventory rows of varying depth placed as low as 285mm and as high as 7820mm, targeting horizontal as well as vertical warehouse space.

Equipped with an intelligent depth camera and precision sensors, the robot can adjust its arms to pick boxes of varying sizes, optimising overall shelf space. The storage location can also be allocated according to the size of the box, improving inventory organisation. Connected to the WMS and driven by intelligent algorithms, the robot autonomously transfers up to eight totes to and from the workstation, automating picking, replenishment, reverse logistics and inventory checking processes.

Liu Kai added: “As a long-term automation partner with strong R&D capabilities, we see it as our responsibility to facilitate various transitions that a business might be facing using flexible robotics. Our AMRs are uniquely tailored to meet industry-specific challenges that logistics operators are facing today.”

Geek+ has 300 global customers and has deployed more than 20,000 robots worldwide. Founded in 2015, it has more than 1500 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in Germany, UK, USA, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.