Remember the famous line from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang earlier this year: “The ChatGPT moment of robots is around the corner”? Well, these programmable machines – designed to perform tasks autonomously or semi-autonomously – are increasingly entering workplaces across various industries, performing tasks like assembly, packaging, and surgery, while also assisting in logistics and research, offering benefits like accuracy and efficiency.
For instance, there is Quadron, a carton shuttle bot for storage and retrieval of cartons/crates, deployed at Hindustan Lever’s warehouse in Chennai. The global consumer goods company, which has a strong presence in India, wanted to leverage automation to reimagine their distribution model to maintain their competitive advantage in the new digital ecosystem of B2B grocery delivery. Noida-based robotics firm Addverb implemented an automation solution utilising technologies such as carton shuttle, pick-to-light, box-it, and warehouse control system. The solution involved a change of model and handling a wide range of SKUs to supply to retailers directly and – efficiently, saving major operational and manpower costs.
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“Fast picking and packing, dynamic load balancing, order scheduling, and finished goods scheduling reduced overall turnaround time for order fulfilment. The complete solution helped Hindustan Lever save major costs, eliminate dependency on distribution centres, and reduce dependency on labours,” Satish Shuka, co-founder, Addverb, told FE.
Similarly, when ITC planned to build its fourth plant with a new integrated food manufacturing and logistics facility in Medak, near Hyderabad, the multi-business conglomerate’s goal was to shift from manual to automated processes to meet their storage and throughput requirements. “They sought a solution capable of handling both full and partial pallet dispatches, accommodating multiple pick-faces to streamline operator tasks, alongside an intelligent warehouse control software for real-time visibility,” said Shukla.
Addverb formulated a smart solution integrating mother-child shuttle and conveyors. Efficiently utilising vertical space, Multipro (a mother-child shuttle-based automated storage and retrieval system) facilitated storage up to G+3 levels. Each level, accessible via a vertical lift, was equipped with a dedicated Multipro for seamless operations. Mobinity, Addverb’s warehouse control system, offered real-time equipment control and inventory visibility.
The evolution of robotics has moved from CNC machines (considered an early form of fixed automation) to robotic arms, and now towards intelligent mobile robotic systems that can work alongside humans in real-world scenarios. In India, the automobile industry has been the earliest and most extensive adopter of robotics and automation. “As costs reduce and adoption increases, we expect more industries to embrace robotics beyond manufacturing and into critical sectors like healthcare, sanitation, and hazardous material management,” said Vimal Govind, co-founder & CEO of Genrobotic Innovations.
“A prime example is our Bandicoot robot, designed specifically for manhole cleaning. This innovation eliminates the need for humans to enter manholes, improving both efficiency and safety,” said Govind. Another example is Genrobotic’s G-Gaiter, a robotic exoskeleton used in physiotherapy for paraplegic patients. Traditional gait training is labour-intensive, requiring therapists to manually assist patients for 2-3 hours per session, often with inconsistent gait patterns. G-Gaiter, powered by AI, delivers personalised, high-quality gait training, tracks patient progress, and enhances productivity – achieving 900 steps in just 20 minutes compared to traditional methods.
Govind stressed that to bring robotics into the mainstream in India, robotic companies must focus on cost reduction, efficiency, and reliability. “Making robotic solutions more affordable and accessible will drive wider adoption, ensuring that automation complements human labor rather than replacing it outright,” he added.
