The AI robot designed to help workers thrive in warehouse jobs

Robots are often seen as a threat to replace human workers in the warehouse, but one award-winning robot company takes a different approach by designing robots that increase the power of humans.

The company’s philosophy is to improve warehouse productivity whilst also empowering the human staff.

Robust.AI won the 2026 Startup Award that will be awarded at the NextGen Supply Chain Conference in Nashville in October. Its robots use artificial intelligence to work alongside humans rather than replacing them.

Most warehouse automation systems require costly, extensive changes to the structure of the warehouse, which take a long time to construct, such as large conveyor belt systems. Robust’s robots, named Carter, require few changes or modifications to the warehouse, so that they can be deployed quickly.

An example of Carter in action is at Saddle Green Logistics Services in the USA, where the robots move around 20 drop-off points, picking orders of beauty products without the need for permanent infrastructure modifications. They work seamlessly amongst human workers who focus on higher-value tasks.

To make the robots easier to operate, they respond to hand gestures, which workers find natural to use. They are very flexible, enabling them to respond and adapt to changing customer order demand.

Whilst humans may continue to use aisle picking trolleys to pick and transport order items, at busy seasonal periods and during labour shortages, warehouses in the future may have the option of recruiting robots to supplement the workforce.

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