Logistics providers are looking for automation that won’t add complexity to their operations. Robust.AI today said it has partnered with O’Neill Logistics to deploy its Carter collaborative mobile robots at O’Neill’s distribution centers in Monroe, N.J., and Savannah, Ga.
“We needed automation that would make our associates more productive without adding complexity to the floor,” said Stephen Reilly, director of industrial engineering at O’Neill Logistics.
“Robust.AI’s system-directed picking, light-directed putting, and the ability to run a lean fleet gave us everything we were looking for,” he added. “We’re confident this is the right platform to grow with as our business scales across both sites.”
O’Neill Logistics adds automation to fulfillment operations
Founded in 2012, O’Neill Logistics is a family-owned, third-party logistics provider (3PL) specializing in transportation, warehousing, and omnichannel distribution services. The Monroe, N.J.-based company operates nearly 2 million sq. ft. (185,806 sq. m) of space near major ports in New Jersey, Georgia, and California. It said it serves many of the nation’s leading brands across the retail apparel, food and beverage, consumer goods, sporting goods, and e-commerce sectors.
Under the agreement, Robust.AI will deploy 24 Carter robots across O’Neill’s distribution facilities, with a go-live date planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The deployment will support both retail and direct-to-consumer (DTC) fulfillment operations at O’Neill’s facility in Monroe. Carter will also support omnichannel order fulfillment at O’Neill’s Savannah campus, a 1 million sq. ft. (92,903 sq. m) facility the company launched in 2023 to serve its growing customer base.
Carter will support O’Neill’s warehouse associates by automating repetitive material handling tasks; reducing unproductive walking; and enabling faster, more flexible order fulfillment across both sites without requiring fixed infrastructure investment, said Robust.AI.
Carter offers ‘drop-in’ collaborative capabilities
Robust.AI described Carter as “a collaborative mobile robot designed to augment existing warehouse operations and workforces.” The company claimed that its software-defined functionality allows facilities to add automation for order-fulfillment picking, point-to-point transport, and mobile sorting without additional infrastructure investment.
Carter’s drop-in automation capabilities and performance-based robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model enable 3PLs such as O’Neill to deploy quickly and scale flexibly in response to customer demand, Robust.AI asserted.
“At Robust.AI, we build automation that works for people, not just around them,” stated Anthony Jules, co-founder and CEO of Robust.AI. “O’Neill Logistics has built its reputation on engineering smarter supply chains for its customers. Carter is designed to slot into exactly that kind of dynamic, high-velocity environment, delivering productivity gains from day one while empowering the people on the floor.”
Jules spoke at the Robotics Summit & Expo in May about “Building Warehouse Robots People Actually Want to Work With.” Last month, Robust.AI announced that it is using Aptiv PLC’s perception systems for its third-generation Carter robot.
Founded in 2019, Robust.AI brings together real-world physical AI and user-centric design to make robots that work for people. The San Carlos, Calif.-based company said that Carter combines commercial robotics and human-robot interaction for ease of adoption and use. Robust.AI said its systems provide safe human-robot collaboration to improve productivity across picking, putaway, value-added service, and material handling.