TORU

A tall mobile robot with two clear sections joined by a grey based, top and middle section moves on a wheeled, lit base along a warehouse full of shoe boxes on shelves. — So. many. shoes. Photo: Magazino

TORU is a mobile robot that can find, retrieve, and transport shoe boxes and other small items in a warehouse. It uses a telescoping tower and a vacuum gripper to handle individual boxes, and is able to reach from the lowest to the tallest shelf in a storage rack. The robot can navigate fully autonomously, using laser scanners to drive safely around people while carrying up to 16 shoe boxes on its back.

Creator

Magazino

Year

2016

Country

Germany 🇩🇪

Categories

Features

Did you know?

After the first creation of TORU, eight iterations were developed within the first year.

A man moves shoe boxes in a warehouse from shelves to a cart while a tall mobile robot deposits shoe boxes onto the shelves. — These two make a good pair for moving shoes. Photo: Magazino

History

TORU is one of several warehouse automation systems offered by Magazino. Founded in 2014 by Frederik Brantner, Lukas Zanger, and Nikolas Engelhard, the company develops and builds fully autonomous mobile robots able to work safely alongside people, with a focus on using AI and robotics to improve e‑commerce, fashion, and production logistics. With over 120 employees, Magazino is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Its investors include Jungheinrich, Körber, Zalando, and Fiege Logistik.

Close-up of suction cups on a telescoping lens that are attached to a shoe box, which is being pulled off a shelf. — Got it! Photo: Magazino

A warehouse with a line of mobile robots, and many others on the move. — Each TORU has a number and a name. Number 83 is Felix. Photo: Magazino

Specs

Overview: Telescoping tower with a suction gripper. Equipped with 2D and 3D cameras for object recognition. Able to reach boxes stored up to 2.5 m high. Perception driven navigation based on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). Can pick up, lift, retrieve or deposit boxes weighing up to 5.8 kg. Can transport up to 16 objects simultaneously.
Status: Ongoing
Year: 2016
Website: magazino.eu/products/toru
Width: 68.5 cm
Height: 193-291 cm (retracted to fully extended)
Length: 137.5 cm
Weight: 235 kg
Speed: 5.4 km/h
Sensors: 60 sensors, including laser scanners at the front and rear, 2D and 3D cameras, and bumper sensors.
Actuators: Multiple motors on drive base, tower, gripper, and shelf system.
Compute: Custom computer and control system. Wi-Fi.
Software: ACROS operating system. Connects to local warehouse management system.
Power: Lithium-iron battery pack, 9 hours operation on a single charge.