Brightpick’s Robot Picks from 20-Foot Shelves

Brightpick, a leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), has introduced its latest innovation—the Giraffe system. Designed to tackle high-shelf inventory retrieval, Giraffe features a large, retractable platform capable of reaching up to 20 feet (6 meters). This new addition expands warehouse automation possibilities, bridging the gap between standard AMRs and human workers.

Revolutionizing High-Shelf Access

Giraffe’s standout feature is its telescoping arm with three overlapping segments. When fully collapsed, it measures 8.5 feet, but it extends up to 11.5 feet, reaching new warehouse heights. Rather than functioning in isolation, the Giraffe works in tandem with Brightpick’s Autopicker robot. The Autopicker, equipped with dual supply bins, extends up to 11 feet, effectively meeting the Giraffe halfway to optimize item retrieval.

This modular approach offers a practical and flexible solution, addressing the challenges of high-density warehouse storage without requiring extensive infrastructure changes.

How Giraffe Stacks Up Against Competitors

Brightpick’s Giraffe enters a competitive market with various warehouse automation solutions, each tackling inventory management differently:

• Dexory: The London-based company’s DexoryView system utilizes telescoping robots for shelf scanning but lacks item retrieval capabilities.
• Drone-Based Inventory Management: Companies like Gather AI, Verity, and Corvus specialize in warehouse scanning with drones but cannot physically retrieve or move inventory due to payload limitations.
• Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS): Firms like AutoStore and Kardex rely on densely packed grid-based solutions, which require significant installation costs and limit inventory flexibility.
• BionicHive’s Squid System: This robotic system moves along shelf-mounted tracks for inventory retrieval. Amazon invested in the Israeli startup in 2022, highlighting interest in alternative warehouse automation solutions.

Unlike traditional AS/RS setups, Brightpick’s mobile-first approach maintains adaptability while significantly improving warehouse efficiency.

The Future of Warehouse Automation

Brightpick plans to deploy Giraffe in 2025, with two major customers already onboard:

• E-Commerce Retailer The Feed – Six Giraffes and 73 Autopickers will operate in a Colorado warehouse.
• Medical Supply Firm McGuff Company – Four Giraffes and 12 Autopickers will be installed at a California facility.

According to Brightpick, this combined solution can triple warehouse density compared to manual human-based operations and double the efficiency of its existing robotic solutions.

As warehouse automation continues to evolve, Brightpick’s Giraffe system offers a unique, scalable, and cost-effective alternative to legacy systems, pushing the boundaries of logistics efficiency.