Yasim Coene (Zeal Robotics): “A first ‘pilot’ with our Zeal Runner AMR will start soon”

In the Start2Scale-up Avenue, LogiVille visitors can recently discover an innovative AMR, the Zeal Runner. This Person-to-Goods robot was designed by Zaventem-based startup Zeal Robotics, thanks in part to the financial support of Comate Ventures, in which Marc Coucke participates. Co-founder and ‘Business Lead’ Yasim Coene tells us more about it.

What is Zeal Robotics?

Zeal Robotics was founded three years ago with the aim of designing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) that drive better and faster, with the Zeal Runner as our first development.

When Zeal Robotics was founded, we exchanged ideas and insights on how warehouses work and how robots can make them more efficient. Our Person-to-Goods (P2G) AMR was born out of this brainstorm. In doing so, we started from three principles: what is financially feasible? How can we differentiate ourselves? How can we develop a product whose driving ability is better than that of the average AMR.

When Zeal Robotics was founded, you had the support of Comate Ventures, imec.istart and Start it @KBC. What was their contribution?

Comate Ventures’ contribution is mainly financial. This is an investment fund of high-tech design company Comate and of Marc Coucke’s holding company Alychlo that focuses specifically on startups developing innovative hardware products. Zeal Robotics was its first investment in 2022, proving that they strongly believe in our concept. In addition to his financial input, Comate also supported us tremendously with the hardware development of our Zeal Runner.

Imec.istart and Start it @KBC mainly support us in developing Zeal Robotics’ strategy. Their accelerator programmes are designed to help startups get their products to market faster.

In warehouses, AMRs are mostly used for Goods-to-Person applications. Why did you develop a Person-to-Goods AMR?

Not all products and organisations lend themselves to G2P. There are still many warehouses and manufacturing plants where people pick products from different places and collect orders. These employees need to be efficiently directed to products and be able to work ergonomically. Through smart navigation, ergonomic design and optimal driving skills, a robot can help.

The basis of the Zeal Runner is an efficient combination of hardware – the AMR and a wearable for scanning – and software. We request the order pool or picking lists from the WMS. The AMR drives to the right location and indicates with colours in the frame in which bin the picked item should be placed. The wearable serves to scan the barcode on the article and on the box, so the operator knows that the right product is in the right box. Incidentally, a wearable is recommended but not essential. There are fixed scanners on either side of the Zeal Runner that can be used for article identification if necessary.

This video gives a good explanation of how the Zeal Runner works.

To move from one corridor to another on a curve, ‘conventional’ AMRs typically move at 0.6 metres per second or around 2.16 km/h. The Zeal Runner can do this at 1 metre per second.

You mentioned that Zeal Robotics wants to differentiate itself through the AMR’s better driving capabilities. Why?

In order picking warehouses, the aisles between racks are often quite narrow. This has an impact on travel speed. The Zeal Runner can drive in a narrow 1.2 m aisle at a speed of 1.2 m/s or 4.32 km/h. To move from one corridor to another on a curve, ‘conventional’ AMRs typically move at 0.6 metres per second or around 2.16 km/h. The Zeal Runner can do this at 1 metre per second. It can therefore travel around corners at 3.6 km/h, which better suits the operator’s walking pattern. The top speed of the Zeal Runner is 7.2 km/h.

In most warehouses, the surface is not purely flat. Again, this is usually not a problem for the Zeal Runner. In our test warehouse, we have an old floor with all the typical flaws and it never caused any problems.

An important aspect in AMRs is navigation. How does that work for you?

First, we map the warehouse using a 3D camera. That map is in the Zeal Runner’s memory. So the AMR can move around without the need for additional infrastructure in the warehouse. Incidentally, the card can easily be duplicated in a second or third AMR.

In case the customer needs very precise navigation, a LIDAR can also be used for more precision.

Are you still in the concept phase or are you already commercialising the Zeal Runner?

We are in the final straight for commercialisation. At the end of March, a first ‘pilot’ will start at Brady in Zele. This international identification specialist has built a brand-new distribution centre there. The Zeal Runner will be used there as a mobile ‘conveyor’ to move smaller goods such as label printers, lockout padlocks and seals in totes between the inbound zone and the zone with Modula warehouse lifts.

The second pilot will be the deployment of the Zeal Runner in order picking. That phased approach allows us to strike the right balance between investors – who want ‘traction’ on the one hand – and logistics users who demand reliability and continuity on the other.

Now that we are taking that first step, we are already looking for pilots for the next phase. If there are visitors to LogiVille or readers of this newsletter who want to set up such a pilot: please contact us!

By the way, the fact that we can proceed in phases also has to do with the fact that our AMR is designed to allow personalisation, and at a low cost. The shelves can easily be adjusted to a different height, but ‘flow racks’ or brackets for bags are also possible. As long as it fits within our frame and total weight capacity of 150 kg, you can mount a customised carrier on our Zeal Runner.

How did you find LogiVille?

It was Bart Van den Borre, the then Managing Director of CaptureTech Belgium, who put us in touch with LogiVille. We think it’s an excellent concept, which is well conceived and framed. We especially love the opportunities that LogiVille offers startups, especially since the pricing is manageable for them.

Zeal Robotics is in an important phase: as mentioned, we can start pilots in real working conditions. Thanks to LogiVille, we can not only grow our brand awareness, but we can also possibly get visitors excited about a pilot. Or we can collaborate with other partners to further improve our products or even set up a co-creation project.

Theme Tour ‘The Future of Work’

Starting on March 11th, Zeal Robotics will be part of the new Theme Tour ‘The Future of Work’. This Theme Tour, with six new partners, offers a unique insight into how digitalisation, automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are shaping tomorrow’s workplace. In addition, the changing expectations of a new generation of workers, such as Gen Z, play a crucial role in the future of work.

Get inspired by hands-on demonstrations and innovative applications from leading partners and discover how your company can be ready for ‘The Future of Work’!

Click here for more information

Start2Scale partner

Want to find out more about this Start2Scale partner? Then click here for more info on Zeal Robotics.