Robotics

Walmart to launch autonomous forklifts at select distribution centers

Walmart will leverage 19 autonomous forklifts from Fox Robotics at four distribution centers.

Image: Adobe Stock

April 19, 2024

Walmart will leverage 19 autonomous forklifts from Fox Robotics at four distribution centers, according to a report from thescxchange.com.

The "FoxBot" autonomous forklifts will unload pallets from trucks after a 16-month proof of concept program.

Walmart has bought an ownership stake in Fox Robotics, according to the report.

"We talk a lot about upskilling at Walmart," Maurice Gray, general manager for Distribution Center 6020 at Walmart, said in a blog post about the autonomous forklift initiative. "And that's for good reason: We've invested in associate opportunity again and again, but there's nothing quite like watching an associate learn and grow every time they clock in.

"Take Jose Molina, for example. A 26-year associate, Jose has long been a part of the culture at our DC. He used to unload trucks – now he manages a complex robotics system toward the same end. And he's proud of his progress. But not just for what it's done to expand his mind. It's expanding his career too.

"Where Jose used to unload manually, he can now direct a FoxBot autonomous forklift to three times the same output. That means he's building our business, increasing our DC's productivity, and saving his lower back so he can hoist his grandchildren just a little higher after a day at work."