CJ Logistics, Seamlessly Handling Boxes of Different Sizes... Industry's First Commercialization of 'AI Robotic Arm'

A CJ Logistics employee is explaining the 'AI Robot Depalletizer' deployed at the Dongtan Fulfillment Center in Gyeonggi-do.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] CJ Logistics announced on the 22nd that it has commercialized the logistics robot that automatically lifts and moves boxes of various sizes for the first time in the industry. Through advanced logistics technology, it is expected to handle a wide variety of products from multiple consignors more efficiently, thereby enhancing the logistics service experience for sellers and consumers.

The 'AI Robot Depalletizer,' which CJ Logistics is the first in the industry to commercialize and moves boxes via a conveyor belt, recognizes the area, height, and position of boxes stacked on pallets and automatically lifts them.

It can operate even when boxes of different sizes are stacked together or not aligned side by side, and since the robot works as if lifting with a human hand, it is called an ‘Irregular Pattern Box Picking Robotic Arm.’ Currently, it is deployed at the Dongtan Fulfillment Center in Gyeonggi-do, which specializes in all logistics tasks such as product storage, inventory management, packaging, and transportation, performing picking operations for e-commerce order products.

Existing depalletizer robot technology could only be applied to boxes matching the initially designed structure. It could only lift boxes of preset sizes and could not operate if the boxes were out of designated positions. As consumer order products diversified, the flexibility of picking robots decreased, so they were mainly used in logistics centers handling single products. In other centers, manpower had to be deployed to manually move heavy loads instead of robots.

CJ Logistics implemented a system capable of continuously processing boxes of different shapes by applying 3D image sensing and artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning technology. A vision camera installed at the top of the equipment captures the area, height, and corner positions of boxes in real time, recognizes the data, and learns autonomously to perform picking operations according to the condition of each box. Even if there are height differences or shape variations among boxes stacked on a pallet, it improves logistics productivity by picking up to two boxes simultaneously in one operation.

Using a special pad and vacuum suction technology attached to the end of the robotic arm, it can lift up to 20 kg at once. After suction, supports safely hold both sides of the box to prevent shaking or dropping during movement. It can move an average of 700 boxes per hour. CJ Logistics plans to continue actively developing advanced technologies with high applicability in logistics sites to improve workers' working environments while increasing logistics productivity.

A CJ Logistics official said, “Through the AI Robot Depalletizer, we can handle various types of products more efficiently, enabling us to provide advanced fulfillment services,” adding, “We will lead the logistics industry through continuous development and on-site introduction of advanced logistics technologies.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.