GEODIS together with Delta Drone is launching “GEODIS Countbot”, an innovative warehouse solution that includes a drone for real-time inventory.

“GEODIS Countbot is a stabilized automated system that includes a drone and is able to do inventory and inventory control,” the global logistics provider, said, adding that inventory can be done in real-time, without human intervention other than a supervising operator and without any special equipment.

GEODIS said the “Countbot” is the result of over three years of R&D and testing to create a reliable automated inventory service that does not require any additional stationary equipment inside the warehouse and is totally safe, protecting both people and property — revolutionizing warehouse inventory.

It was built by both Delta Drone, which specializing in civilian drones for professional use, and GEODIS, one of the international leaders in transport and logistics.

“Inventory is a time-consuming activity and can be risky for humans, requiring operations to be shut down and the rental of personnel lifts. With “GEODIS Countbot,” inventory can now be carried out quickly, automatically and safely,” said Romain Cauvet, global engineering director, Supply Chain optimization, GEODIS.

In terms of performance, the first assignments performed in real-time, in a 10 000 m2 warehouse, allowed GEODIS to estimate inventory time at under three hours instead of the one to two days it used to take.

The solution combines a robot, a telescopic mast that can reach up to 10 meters and a drone that ensures the stability and therefore the quality of the images collected. It has been the subject of several patent applications.

The unit moves automatically through the aisles of the warehouse, following trajectories entered beforehand in the robot’s memory thanks to an initial full mapping of the site. As it moves, the cameras photograph the pallet barcodes end detect anomalies, if any. All the data are then reported to the WMS (Warehouse Management System).