OSARO, a global leader in machine-learning-enabled robotics for e-commerce, announced a partnership that integrates its pick-and-place robots with warehouse automation systems from Geek+. The new alliance offers businesses a one-stop solution for their warehouse fulfillment operations and a strategy to boost the ROI of their autonomous mobile robot systems (AMRs) and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS).

Geek+ mobile robots are noted for being simple and fast to install or reconfigure, needing only moveable QR code floor marks to operate.

“At OSARO, our goal is to provide reliable robotic systems that make automation easy, which is why the seamless integration of our picking robots with Geek+ systems is so valuable for quick and easy deployment,” said OSARO CEO Derik Pridmore. “We’re pleased to have an OSARO-powered robot and Geek+ Sorting Series AMRs available for customers to see in action at our San Francisco RobotWorks customer center.”

The pairing represents another step in the progression of robots working together across the warehouse, the partners explained. It involves the ability to connect Geek+ AMRs and ASRS with OSARO’s smart, AI-driven picking robots. Using a FANUC robot arm, OSARO enables automation of the last step in the warehouse fulfillment process—picking and placing—is a function that until now has been handled solely by human operators at workstations.

The interoperability of OSARO-powered robots with AMR/ASRS and other warehouse systems is made possible by OSARO’s latest REST API, which offers greater flexibility in what the systems can be asked to do, OSARO added. The API allows integrators to choose commands in a variety of blocks, so that actions can readily be strung together in different ways. For example, a system can be directed to pick, scan, and place an object. Or it can be ordered to pick, scan, and then wait for a customer warehouse management system to send a command before performing an additional action.

The desire for a complete solution, including the automation of human picking stations, has been accelerated by the triple dilemma of crushing e-commerce demand, the most severe labor shortage in 53 years, and sky-high consumer expectations for lower prices and faster delivery, the partners also stated. 

“Solving the labor shortage is critical for anyone in e-commerce today,” said Rick DeFiesta, executive vice president of sales and solutions at Geek+ America. “Geek+ systems take less floor space and are highly flexible in both their use and installation, allowing for easy redeployments in new configurations when necessary.”

As part of the agreement, Geek+ has joined OSARO’s partner program, which offers one-stop access for businesses looking to deploy robotic solutions in their fulfillment operations. The OSARO Partners Alliance provides a mechanism for AMR and ASRS vendors, integrators, distributors, third-party logistics companies, and consultants to collaborate and co-market unified solutions.