TLDR:
– Ikea is introducing AI-enabled drones in its U.S. distribution center to do inventory checks and reduce physical strain on human workers.
– The drones will use artificial intelligence to identify and photograph product storage locations and avoid collisions.
Ikea is implementing autonomous AI-enabled drones in its U.S. distribution center located in Perryville, Maryland. These drones are designed to work alongside Ikea workers to conduct inventory checks and alleviate physical strain on employees. The drones use an artificial intelligence-based algorithm to identify and photograph product storage locations, and they are equipped with obstacle detection capabilities to avoid collisions by rerouting their paths. The drones are manufactured by Verity and have already been deployed in 73 Ikea locations across nine countries.
Claes Lindgren, who oversees global logistics at Ikea, highlights the benefits of using drones in streamlining processes in logistics units, ensuring better inventory integrity, and ultimately enhancing the customer experience. In contrast, other companies like Walmart are scaling back their use of drones for direct consumer interactions due to high delivery costs. Despite these challenges, Ikea continues to expand its use of drones in distribution centers for inventory management.
While Ikea has not provided exact details on the rollout of drones in the U.S. and the number of distribution centers that may receive drones in the near future, the move signifies a significant shift towards integrating AI technology in warehouse operations. This adoption of AI-enabled drones reflects a broader trend in the industry towards automation and efficiency in logistics management.