San Francisco, September 26, 2023 – FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) has partnered with Dexterity AI to revolutionize its Ground delivery service’s trailer-loading process in a groundbreaking move combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence with robotics. The collaboration was officially unveiled at the joint event “Unlock the Dock” in San Francisco, showcasing the first-of-its-kind robotic truck designed to optimize the complex task of loading FedEx Ground trailers.
Traditionally, manual trailer loading has been challenging and labor-intensive due to the diverse shipments flowing through the FedEx network. These shipments vary significantly in size, shape, weight, and packaging materials, making stacking them efficiently a formidable challenge.
FedEx’s pursuit of innovation and operational excellence led to the collaboration with Dexterity AI, a robotics firm specializing in creating intelligent robots with human-like dexterity. The result of this partnership is an innovative AI-powered technology designed to streamline trailer loading and address the complexities of the task.
Central to this collaborative effort is Dexterity AI’s mobile robot, DexR. DexR is equipped with a suite of advanced intelligence that allows it to perform critical functions: seeing, touching, thinking, and moving rapidly to create stable and densely packed walls of randomized boxes within trailers.
One of the key features of this technology is the “generative wall planning” capability. With remarkable speed, Dexterity’s AI software assesses billions of possibilities for building walls within the trailer, ensuring that the boxes are tightly packed for maximum space utilization and stability. This planning process takes a mere 500 milliseconds, exemplifying AI’s remarkable efficiency and precision.
Moreover, the DexR robot has a unique “sense of touch” powered by AI-controlled force feedback. This tactile ability enables the robot to gently nudge boxes together, further enhancing the precision and stability of the loaded cargo.
As an AI-driven system, the technology continuously learns and improves with each box it handles. Machine learning algorithms ensure that DexR becomes increasingly efficient at handling a wide range of packing challenges, adapting to the evolving demands of the FedEx network.
Dexterity AI’s technology seamlessly integrates with FedEx’s ground operations. The DexR robot navigates autonomously to the rear of trailers and connects to a conveyor system that delivers packages directly from the sortation system. DexR’s unique dual-arm design lets it pick and pack boxes simultaneously, significantly improving loading throughput.
Furthermore, the system incorporates integrated motion planning, ensuring that DexR’s arms move swiftly within the trailer without colliding with each other or the trailer walls, enhancing both safety and efficiency.
FedEx’s commitment to innovation and operational efficiency is evident in this pioneering partnership with Dexterity AI. The collaboration aims to redefine the trailer loading process, making it more efficient, precise, and adaptable to the FedEx network’s diverse range of daily shipments.
Rebecca Yeung, Corporate Vice President of Operations Science and Advanced Technologies for FedEx, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, saying, “Based on feedback from our operations team, we have been looking for a solution that helps alleviate the challenges of truck loading. Collaborating with Dexterity AI to combine the latest in AI and robotics supports our operations team while meeting growing customer demand.”
Samir Menon, Founder and CEO of Dexterity AI, also expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “FedEx shares our belief that innovation should solve the most difficult tasks in operations. Our collaboration is driven by a vision of AI-powered robotics adaptable to our customer’s most pressing needs.”
The collaboration between FedEx and Dexterity AI is now in the testing phase, with FedEx working to refine the technology for commercial deployment in the future. If successful, this innovative solution has the potential to not only transform the trailer loading process within FedEx but also serve as a model for the logistics industry as a whole.
In a world where speed, precision, and adaptability are paramount, the FedEx-Dexterity AI partnership marks a significant step forward in applying artificial intelligence and robotics in logistics. It underscores the limitless potential of technology to solve complex real-world challenges, making the movement of goods more efficient and reliable, ultimately benefiting customers and the global supply chain.
Dexterity, Inc. is a Redwood City, California-based robotics company specializing in creating intelligent robots with human-like dexterity. By automating repetitive tasks, Dexterity’s full-stack robotics solutions unlock the maximum value of the workforce, allowing employees to focus on higher-level cognitive work. With applications in logistics, warehousing, and supply chain operations, Dexterity’s robots excel in complex manipulations in unpredictable environments. To learn more, visit www.dexterity.ai.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad transportation, e-commerce, and business services portfolio. With nearly $90 billion in annual revenue, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, working collaboratively, and innovating digitally as one FedEx. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires more than 500,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about.
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