Lab0 CEO Steve Toebes discusses how RoboGlide is eliminating inefficiencies, integrating AI-driven automation, and setting a new benchmark for autonomous warehouse operations.
Warehouse automation has long been plagued by fragmented solutions, high operational costs, and inefficiencies caused by integrating disparate technologies. Robotics Business NEWS explores how RoboGlide, an end-to-end autonomous system, is transforming warehouse operations—from unloading to palletizing—with unmatched precision and adaptability. In this exclusive interview, Steve Toebes, CEO of Lab0, shares insights on RoboGlide’s evolution, AI-powered capabilities, and its real-world impact on warehouse logistics, including a successful deployment at a major U.S. retailer. Read on to discover how this next-gen automation system is setting a new industry standard.
Q: What specific challenges in warehouse operations does RoboGlide address, and how does it improve efficiency compared to existing solutions?
A:
"Warehouse automation has traditionally been fragmented, with different solutions handling unloading, sorting, and palletizing as separate processes. These solutions are often provided by different suppliers, leaving warehouse managers to integrate them into a cohesive system. Large integrators claim to offer end-to-end automation, but in practice, they often fail due to limited access to third-party equipment.
RoboGlide eliminates these inefficiencies by integrating the entire inbound logistics process into a single, autonomous system. Unlike traditional robotic solutions that focus on isolated tasks, RoboGlide functions as a fully coordinated system, dynamically adapting to different package types, volumes, and conditions in real time. This results in:
- Higher throughput
- Reduced labor dependency
- Improved operational consistency
- Lower downtime and operational costs
With RoboGlide, warehouses no longer have to rely on patchworked systems that lead to inefficiencies and costly maintenance."
Q: Could you elaborate on the development process of RoboGlide over the past two years and any significant milestones achieved during this period?
A:
"The past two years have been dedicated to refining RoboGlide’s end-to-end automation capabilities. Early on, we identified gaps in warehouse automation for inbound workflows, particularly the lack of flexibility and intelligence needed for large-scale logistics. Our focus was on creating an autonomous system capable of handling high-volume operations while adapting to real-world warehouse conditions.
Key milestones include:
- Early 2023: Successful trials of RoboGlide’s dual-arm system, proving human-like dexterity in unloading.
- Mid-2023: Integration of the Percept0 vision system for high-speed package identification and damage detection.
- Late 2023: Deployment of NVIDIA Isaac Lab-powered simulation for AI-driven motion planning.
- 2024: First large-scale deployment at a major U.S. retailer, marking a groundbreaking implementation of autonomous inbound logistics.
- December 2024: Patent issued for our full inbound automation and robotics system.
Each of these milestones has brought us closer to achieving fully autonomous logistics operations."
Q: How does RoboGlide’s integration of AI, machine learning, and computer vision enhance its performance in tasks like product identification and damage detection?
A:
"Traditional warehouse automation struggles with variability—unstructured packaging, damaged goods, and unpredictable conditions. RoboGlide’s AI-driven approach continuously learns and adapts.
Here’s how it works:
- Machine Learning: RoboGlide processes real-time operational data to optimize picking and sorting strategies dynamically.
- Advanced Computer Vision: It detects subtle defects, irregular packaging, and mislabeled inventory with high accuracy, minimizing costly manual interventions.
- Data-Driven Intelligence: Applied machine learning improves performance as more real-world data is processed.
RoboGlide learns in three ways:
- Live customer site data – continuously analyzing real-world packages.
- Machine learning with imagery – leveraging diverse package datasets.
- Simulation-based learning – using NVIDIA’s Isaac Lab and Omniverse to model different shipping conditions.
By combining these data streams, RoboGlide enhances its decision-making and adapts to evolving warehouse challenges."
Q: In what ways does the Percept0 vision system contribute to RoboGlide's ability to handle diverse inventory within warehouse environments?
A:
"Percept0 is the intelligence layer that enables RoboGlide to make real-time, data-driven decisions in live warehouse conditions. Unlike traditional barcode scanning or RFID tracking, Percept0 uses deep learning-based object recognition to:
- Adapt to various package types and materials without pre-programming.
- Compare picked packages against the manifest in real time.
- Identify and filter out damaged goods before they enter the supply chain.
- Optimize stacking and palletizing for efficient load balancing.
One of Percept0’s key advantages is its hardware-agnostic design. It seamlessly integrates with multiple 2D and 3D perception sources and provides automatic calibration and pose estimation. This makes Percept0 a scale-invariant solution that can be easily configured to suit different warehouse needs."
Q: What feedback have you received from the deployment of RoboGlide at a leading single price-point small box retailer, and how has it impacted their logistics operations?
A:
"The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Our client was facing rising labor costs and operational bottlenecks in high-volume distribution centers. After evaluating all available solutions, they found that none could fully address their inbound logistics challenges—so they partnered with us to develop RoboGlide.
Key results from RoboGlide’s deployment include:
- Increased throughput – by streamlining unloading, sorting, and palletizing into a unified system.
- Reduced manual labor dependency – allowing workers to focus on higher-value tasks.
- Improved accuracy – with AI-driven damage detection minimizing product losses.
- Enhanced scalability – providing a roadmap for expanded automation across their distribution network.
Beyond transforming this retailer’s operations, RoboGlide has set a new standard in autonomous logistics. As we prepare for live demonstrations at ProMat 2025, we aim to showcase its ability to operate in real warehouse environments—without staged setups—solidifying its position as the industry leader in system-level logistics automation."