Daniel Craig’s last James Bond film has finally been released, the NFL season is in full swing, and for the first time in several years, Memphis in May will return with a complete lineup of events. But I know what you’re really excited for: the Autonomous Mobile Robots & Logistics Conference, set to be held in Memphis from Oct 12-14.
Can I get an “Amen” in R2-D2’s beeps and bops?
Last held in Louisville in 2019, the event is hosted by the Michigan-based Association for Advancing Automation (A3), and will focus on the increasing interest in mobile robotics, distribution, material handling, and e-commerce technologies.
The conference has also bagged a high-profile sponsor: FedEx.
“FedEx was built on innovation, and it continues to be an integral part of our culture and business strategy,” said Rebecca Yeung, the company’s VP of advanced technology and innovation, in a press release. “We see the incredible benefits that next-generation innovation brings, and we are excited to support this year’s Autonomous Mobile Robots & Logistics Conference as it brings cutting-edge innovations and hundreds of industry experts to the Memphis area.”
The conference and exhibits will feature presentations from leading robotics users and suppliers, and there are expected to be talks and exhibits focused on robot arms, gripping solutions, vision, AI, motion control, and related technologies used in logistics applications.
In addition to this, FedEx will provide select attendees with a behind-the-scenes look at some of its local innovation and operations facilities. And seven of the 38 conference speakers listed on the website are employed by the delivery services giant, including Yeung.
FedEx’s involvement with the conference is unsurprising, as the company has sought to invest more in robotics and automatous technology in recent years.
Roxo, FedEx’s same-day delivery bot, is continuing to go through rounds of tests, and in June, the company announced it had signed a multiyear, multiphase agreement with Nuro Inc. — the California-based autonomous vehicle company — to test its autonomous delivery vehicle.
Then, in September, FedEx revealed it was collaborating with Paccar, the Washington-based truck manufacturer, and Aurora, the California-based self-driving vehicle technology company, to launch a commercial pilot test of autonomous trucks in linehaul trucking operations.
That same month, CFO Mike Lenz touched on automation in a Q1 2022 earnings call, when an analyst asked if the labor market woes meant this was an ideal time to pivot more toward a wider adoption of robotics and automation. CFO Mike Lenz noted that of the company's $7.2 billion in planned CapEx spending this year, a fair amount was allocated toward enhancing efficiency of facilities — which was "exactly the point" the analyst was hitting on, he said.
