Latest news with #Exotec
Metro
13 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Rich people ‘will have robot butlers within five years - with one major flaw'
We've all had fears about it, right? That one day robots will come in and takeover the world? Well we could be getting that much closer, as one expert has predicted robotic butlers will be a common toy for the super rich by 2030. Right now, humanoids are making great strides (or sometimes, falling over), but are still not quite ready for mass adoption. The chief executive of a company which makes robots used in warehouses across the world says this is about to change, however. Romain Moulin, the founder of Exotec, told Metro that within five years, those with enough money to spare will have robots to wipe their floors and maybe even fold their laundry. It won't be because they are so good at the job, though: 'It's mostly for bragging to your friends,' he said. They will be an expensive novelty at first, and will work for far less time than Jeeves could before taking a break. 'I think the first one we'll see will be like a Roomba,' Romain said. 'It will be sitting in a corner of the room. You will have some friends over and you will tell that humanoid robot, 'Please clean my floor.' 'It will pick up a broom and start cleaning, and then will go back and sit on his chair charging, because he has ten minutes of autonomy. That stuff has high power consumption.' At a push, developments in battery tech might let it keep going for 20 minutes, but ultimately it's not going to last longer than a cordless vacuum. Romain's company makes the Skypod robot, a functional piece of tech serving companies including Gap, Carrefour, Uniqlo and Decathlon. He thinks that when it comes to warehouses, humanoid robots are destined for the scrapheap. 'Nobody has a convincing answer on why you would have legs instead of wheels for an industrial environment,' he said. 'Why would you want legs on a flat concrete floor? You will save half of your robot price by removing them.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video He isn't convinced that humanoid robots are the answer for companies trying to be more efficient. By replicating the shape of a person, they're optimising something 'to run in the bush and pick apples in the trees' because humans were built for prehistoric survival, not packing parcels. But he does admit they are more useful in places where humans tend to be, such as hospitals, restaurants, or houses. Bringing a robot home isn't simple, though, as it's a much less regimented environment. 'Payload, autonomy, and safety are the biggest challenges,' Romain explained. 'If you increase the performance of your robot and you want it to lift heavier things, you are creating more chance to hurt someone.' He said that for a robot to be able to stand and walk around, its legs would have to weigh some 40kg, which is already enough power to do damage. Do you want a robot housekeeper? Humanoid robots are becoming more and more high profile, made by companies such as Tesla, which says their Optimus model will be 'capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring'. This robot is expected to cost around $20,000, but Romain guessed that fully functioning humanoid robot capable of doing household tasks independently would be more like $200,000. While we're fascinated by robots that look like us, they are more complicated to programme than a box on wheels. Balancing is a particular issue, and if it goes wrong it can lead to disturbing scenes like this robot 'going berserk' in a Chinese workshop. Romain says this is likely to have been down to its sensors realising it was still not stable, so making bigger and bigger 'crazy' moves to try and fix the problem in a feedback loop. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video AI has allowed big advancements in robotics, as it is used to power their independent navigation. This is how Evri were able to test out a robotic dog to deliver parcels, and UK farmers have also embraced the tech with robot fruit pickers. You may not interact with them much yet, still, but they could become as commonplace as touchscreens for food orders soon. More Trending He said that he is concerned about the changes that are coming to the jobs market, with humanoid robots able to take on most unskilled work within 20 years, and computers just 'working alone' in offices. 'One human then will do the job of five humans now,' he said. Even though Romain works with robots them every day, though, he won't be putting a butler on preorder. 'I prefer human relations,' he said. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Why so many young Brits are being 'manipulated' into smuggling drugs MORE: 9 best BBQs and pizza ovens from Dunelm ideal for this bank holiday weekend MORE: Uber says it's ready to put robotaxis on UK roads by 2027
Associated Press
17-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Exotec Announces Partnership with Oxford Industries to Implement Next Generation Skypod System in New Multi-Brand Distribution Center
Owner of Tommy Bahama®, Lilly Pulitzer® and Johnny Was® will outfit new 560,000+-square-foot, omnichannel facility with end-to-end automation platform ATLANTA, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Exotec®, a global warehouse robotics provider, announced that Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE: OXM) selected Exotec to automate its new, large-scale distribution center in Lyons, Georgia. Oxford Industries is a leader in the apparel industry and owns several distinctive brands including Tommy Bahama®, Lilly Pulitzer® and Johnny Was®. The new facility will support Oxford Industries' ongoing business growth and boost productivity of the existing workforce. The new 560,000+-square-foot facility is designed to process more than 20 million units a year, making it Exotec's largest and most intricate robotic deployment to date. The Next Generation Skypod system, which will serve as the picking engine for the whole warehouse, will consist of over 450,000 storage locations and more than 450 robots. Exotec will integrate its hardware and software with third-party machinery to offer end-to-end warehouse automation and support receiving, decanting, sorting, and packing, as well as outbound shipment. The system will also enable the company to effectively handle returns, significantly cutting the amount of time and labor needed to inspect, sort, and store returned items, streamlining the process of making it available for resale. 'As the largest Exotec deployment to date, the Oxford Industries project not only showcases the performance and scalability of our system, but also the sophistication of our integration capabilities,' says Romain Moulin, CEO and co-founder of Exotec. 'Having a client like Oxford Industries select Exotec as the integrator for a project of this complexity speaks volumes about the trust they put in our ability to deliver end-to-end warehouse automation that goes beyond our standard Skypod system.' 'We are excited about making this large investment in an expanded facility in Toombs County which, together with the great workforce we already have here, has been a great place for Oxford for many years,' said Mark Kirby, Oxford's Senior Vice President-Operations. 'This new facility, with convenient access to Southeastern U.S. ports, will be supported by Exotec's next generation Skypod system and ensure best-in-class direct to consumer throughput capabilities for our brands.' The multi-brand, omnichannel distribution facility is expected to open in late 2025 and will play a critical role in supporting Oxford Industries' future operations. Click here for more details about our booth at: About Exotec Exotec is a global warehouse robotics company powering the world's largest brands. The company combines the best of hardware and software to offer elegant warehouse robotic systems that drive operational efficiency, add resiliency, and improve working conditions for warehouse operators. 50+ industry-leading brands including Gap Inc., Carrefour, Decathlon, and UNIQLO trust Exotec to improve their operations across 150+ sites worldwide. About Oxford Industries Oxford Industries, Inc., a leader in the apparel industry, owns and markets the distinctive Tommy Bahama®, Lilly Pulitzer®, Johnny Was®, Southern Tide®, The Beaufort Bonnet Company® and Duck Head® lifestyle brands. Oxford's stock has traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1964 under the symbol OXM. For more information, please visit Oxford's website at 770-769-7333
