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Fedex and Dorabot’s DoraSorter can sort packages for up to 100 destinations simultaneously. | Source: FedEx

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx, announced that it has collaborated with DoraBot to launch DoraSorter, a sorting robot. DoraSorter is deployed at FedEx’s e-commerce shipment sorting center in Guangzhou, China. FedEx and Dorabot are monitoring the robot and fine-tuning its operations, while also exploring more applications for it.

DoraSorter has a 40 square meter reach (43 sq. ft.), and can carry up to 10 kg (22 lb) of packages. The robot’s gripper is drawer-shaped to connect with a conveyor belt. It’s equipped with a barcode reader to scan packages and determine their destination.

The robot receives packages inward from a conveyor belt with its gripper. After determining the package’s destination, the robot moves it outward to its destination spot. It’s capable of sorting packages for up to 100 destinations simultaneously.

“The use of DoraSorter helps FedEx sort a higher volume of cross-border e-commerce shipments,” Xiaobai Deng, founder and CEO of Dorabot, said. “It is the starting point of a global collaboration between Dorabot and FedEx. We hope that we can work together to bring AI and robotics applications to more businesses and consumers.”

While this is the first sorting robot FedEx is putting to use in its Chinese facilities, it’s not a first for the company as a whole. In August, FedEx Ground, another subsidiary of FedEx, deployed Berkshire Grey Robotic Product Sortation and Identification systems at its station in Queens, New York. The system sorts thousands of small packages that arrive daily in bulk.

“As we look to build a data-driven, smart logistics network to help our customers thrive in the digital economy, this alliance with Dorabot is part of becoming the network for what’s next,” Kawal Preet, president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express, said. “AI-powered technology will continue to change how we support customers in the region and enhance supply chains for the future.”

FedEx has also been investing in technologies in other Chinese facilities. In October 2021, FedEx partnered with Neolix to test autonomous delivery vehicles in China. The company is also testing the FedEx SameDay Bot Roxo for last mile deliveries in AMEA.