Ocado Intelligent Automation announces debut of Porter AMR autonomous pallet moving robot

Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA), part of Ocado Group, has introduced Porter AMR, a pallet moving AMR that navigates warehouses to automate several warehouse workflows such as cross-docking, bulk-item picking, putaway, and pallet movement.

OIA’s patented system directed software orchestrates each Porter autonomous pallet moving robot–or a whole fleet of them - to reduce travel times and avoid warehouse congestion. Ocado’s Fulfillment Execution System (FES) groups orders to maximise case picking, optimise route plans and reduce steps between picks. Meanwhile, machine learning prioritises and plans pallet stacking intelligently to avoid product damage.

“Porter from OIA automates low value, manual tasks and fosters a more productive workplace by supporting associates, increasing case picking rates, and automating the movement of high volumes of inventory,” says Jeff Larson, Director of Solutions Design for Ocado Mobile Robot System at OIA.

“Companies in third-party logistics, retail, e-commerce, distribution, and healthcare can maximise warehouse productivity and scale operations up or down easily without depending on manual forklifts and expensive certified forklift drivers.” 

Porter picks, moves and places pallets directly from the floor with precision, even when they are aligned back-to-back. It recognises its surroundings to safely handle and transport heavy loads autonomously and can be configured to handle cages, increasing flexibility and expanding fulfillment capabilities.

Features:

• An onboard touchscreen with a live front camera view, enabling associates to safely maneuver Porter in manual mode.

• A 3,300 pound (1,500 kilograms) payload capacity to transport densely packed pallets.

• The ability to transport one pallet or two roll cages on a single trip.

• Dynamic task switching software that seamlessly transitions Porter between inventory movement and case picking tasks as operational needs evolve.

• Advanced built-in sensors to detect, recognize and handle any open or closed standard pallet types, including Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP), Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and European Pallet Association e.V.(EPAL) pallets.

• A slim, counterbalance-free design with a tight turning radius to operate in pallet lanes as narrow as 51 inches (1.3 meters) wide.

Porter integrates with existing wall to wall fulfillment platforms, warehouse execution systems (WES), warehouse control systems (WCS) and warehouse management systems (WMS), to prioritise tasks with minimal disruption and increase warehouse productivity. These systems can collaborate to:

• Pick and pass complex orders across multiple robots.

• Automate inbound and outbound pallet movement from automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) from OIA or other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

• Connect to robotic arms to deliver or pick pallets from palletising and depalletising areas.

Porter's advanced vision system enables it to navigate safely and autonomously without requiring infrastructure changes or manual intervention. Moving at speeds of up to 4.5 miles per hour, the AMR dynamically adjusts its speed when detecting people or equipment in the area, ensuring workplace safety. Porter intelligently parallel parks itself in aisles to reduce congestion.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Autonomous retail will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards. which will open for entries in March, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.