DHL Group, a worldwide chief in logistics, is increasing its already sturdy relationship with Boston Dynamics. By way of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), DHL plans to deploy 1,000+ extra Stretch robots from Boston Dynamics by 2030. The businesses are additionally trying to increase the sorts of functions Stretch is used for, past container unloading.
DHL and Boston Dynamics have been working collectively since 2018. DHL first deployed Stretch in North America in 2023. The logistics big has additionally deployed the robotic in the UK and Europe, attaining unloading charges of as much as 700 instances per hour.
DHL mentioned it plans to additional combine Stretch into its operations. A key space of growth is case choosing, which DHL identified is likely one of the most labor-intensive actions inside its provide chain.
“We’ll work collectively to prioritize the applying growth of cell case choosing in addition to discover different synergies throughout DHL’s divisions,” a Boston Dynamics spokesperson instructed The Robotic Report. Watch the video under for examples of cell case choosing functions for Stretch.
DHL mentioned it has invested greater than €1 billion in automation inside its contract logistics division during the last three years. The corporate mentioned it has deployed greater than 7,500 robots throughout its world community. AutoStore, Fox Robotics, Geek+, and Locus Robotics are among the different notable robotics firms DHL works with.
In June 2024, DHL introduced it surpassed 500 million picks with Locus’ autonomous cell robots alone. It took DHL 2.5 years to achieve the primary 10 million picks with the LocusBots and 28 months to finish the following 100 million picks. Remarkably, the final 100 million picks took simply 154 days.
“By way of our Accelerated Digitalization agenda, we’re dedicated to maximizing the influence of robotics and automation throughout all our operations and enterprise items,” mentioned Sally Miller, world CIO of DHL Provide Chain. “It’s a elementary shift that’s reshaping how we function and elevate service for our prospects. By way of this expanded partnership with Boston Dynamics, DHL will take a extra lively position in shaping and directing robotics growth alongside key companions, specializing in constructing extra resilient, responsive, and smarter options that tackle the distinctive challenges of our firm. Collectively, we’re setting new requirements for the logistics business.”
DHL mentioned greater than 90% of its warehouses worldwide use no less than one type of automation or digitalization. Different firms that make robots to unload containers embody Contoro Robotics, Dexterity, Mujin, Pickle Robotic, Slip Robotics, and XYZ Robotics.
“We’re proud to proceed strengthening our collaboration with DHL Group,” mentioned Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter. “Our groups have been on a journey of innovation collectively to create a sensible and efficient warehouse robotics answer, and that is the pure subsequent step in what has been a superb relationship. Stretch is ideally suited to be the primary multi-use case, field choosing robotic that may meet the various wants of DHL. Collectively, we’re striving to set an instance of sensible management of the trendy provide chain.”
Boston Dynamics continues to scale
As soon as primarily often known as a cutting-edge analysis and growth outfit, Boston Dynamics is more and more scaling its industrial robots. Throughout his keynote on the Robotics Summit & Expo, CTO Aaron Saunders mentioned there are 2,000+ Spot quadrupeds working world wide. It’s now beginning to scale Stretch with DHL.
However Boston Dynamics’ greatest buyer could possibly be its proprietor, Hyundai. In 2021, Hyundai acquired Boston Dynamics from SoftBank for $880 million.
Hyundai mentioned in April 2025 it’ll make investments $21 billion within the U.S., together with a $6 billion funding to drive innovation and increase strategic partnerships with U.S. firms. It mentioned a part of this funding shall be shopping for “tens of 1000’s” of robots, some proportion of which shall be from Boston Dynamics. Hyundai is already deploying Spot for industrial inspection and predictive upkeep at its amenities.
The automaker seems to be most , nonetheless, in Boston Dynamics’ new electrical Atlas humanoid, which Saunders mentioned at size throughout his keynote. Hyundai plans to begin testing Atlas for half sequencing duties later this yr.
“Boston Dynamics and robotics AI will play a vital position in attaining the group’s purpose,” said Jaehoon Chang, vice chair of Hyundai Motor Group. “Bodily AI and humanoid robots will remodel our enterprise panorama to the following degree. By way of our collaboration, we are going to expedite the method to realize management within the robotics business.”
