Boston Dynamics today announced the acquisition of Kinema Systems, a Menlo Park-based company that provides industrial robotic arms with deep learning technology and vision to locate and move boxes on complex pallets.
Using a combination of vision sensors and deep learning software, Kinema Systems’ Pick technology works with leading commercial robotic arms to move boxes from pallets to conveyors or to build stacks of boxes on pallets. Pick enables logistics, retail, and manufacturing companies to achieve high rates of box moving with minimal set up or training for both multi-SKU and single-SKU pallets.
“Bringing the Kinema team into Boston Dynamics expands our perception and learning capabilities while the Pick product accelerates our entry into the logistics market,” said Boston Dynamics Founder and CEO Marc Raibert. “Beyond being a powerful tool for industrial robotic arms, Kinema technology will help our mobile manipulation robots tackle a wide variety of complex real-world tasks.”
Pick joins Boston Dynamics’ recently upgraded Handle platform in addressing the logistics industry. Last week Boston Dynamics released a video of Handle performing both multi-SKU pallet building and depalletizing to conveyor tasks.
While development continues on Handle, Boston Dynamics plans to sell and support Pick for interested customers starting now.
Sachin Chitta, Founder and CEO of Kinema Systems said, “Boston Dynamics’ reputation for innovation fits perfectly with our mission of developing the next generation of vision-enabled warehouse robots.”
The team at Kinema Systems provides a beachhead for Boston Dynamics’ first office in Silicon Valley. With plans to expand in the Bay Area this year, the team will develop and sell advanced robotics products for the logistics market, as well as research and develop technology for the whole family of Boston Dynamics robots.
