Cartken launches Cartken Hauler autonomous robot for indoor, outdoor material handling

California-based autonomous robotics company Cartken announced the launch of Cartken Hauler, a highly maneuverable robot with increased payload capacity designed to automate mixed outdoor/indoor environment material handling for manufacturing facilities, warehouses, distribution centers, corporate campuses and life sciences environments.

Cartken said the Hauler launch highlights its growing focus on offerings beyond last-mile delivery, tackling a gap in industrial and onsite logistics automation: seamless material handling across complex, mixed environments, multiple levels and diverse terrains.

A new generation of industrial transport robots

The company said Cartken Hauler is designed for industries that demand dynamic, efficient material transport, handling everything from inventory and samples to tools and documents. It combines advanced AI-powered camera-based autonomy with rugged, all-terrain capabilities, ensuring reliable operation in even the most demanding environments, and navigates safely around people.

“Today's intralogistics operations demand material handling solutions that can adapt seamlessly across environments. Cartken Hauler does exactly that," said Christian Bersch, CEO and co-founder of Cartken."We are building on our autonomous robot technology and AI models trained on hundreds of thousands oflast-mile delivery miles. We now transfer this technology to industrial and onsite logistics automation, meeting our customers’ demand for a robust robotic transport solution that can operate in more challenging environments and is much faster to deploy than traditional mobile robots. The Hauler represents a new era of material handling - one that offers cost-effective indoor and outdoor goods movement without special infrastructure.”

Cartken highlighted the following technical features of Hauler:

• All-terrain capability: Navigates on uneven concrete, gravel, pebbles, grass, asphalt, dirt, tile and carpet for easy indoor & outdoor operations.
• All-weather & day/night navigation: Operates reliably in rain, sun, snow and extreme temperatures from -4° F to 122° F (-20° C to +50° C). Advanced perception sensors enable navigation in any lighting conditions, 24/7.
• Integration with existing systems: Fully autonomous end-to-end deliveries across multiple floor levels, with integration options for elevators, gates, doors and software systems.
• Technical specifications:
  • Load capacity: 660 lbs (300 kg) on flat surfaces and 550 lbs (250 kg) on 10° slopes.
  • Speed: Top speed of 4.5 mph (7.2 km/h) with a zero-point turning radius and omnidirectional steering.
  • Charging: Autonomous charging dock with 16+ hours of runtime and a 4-hour recharge time.
• Flexible cargo options: Available with a flat base, shelf, enclosed and temperature-controlled compartments capable of maintaining from -112° F to +212° F (-80° C to +100° C).
• Infrastructure-free deployment: Fully operational within seven days by fitting into existing operations without any major modifications.

Cartken explained how traditional mobile robot offerings often lack the flexibility required for complex industrial environments:

• Automated guided vehicles: AGVs operate on fixed paths guided by wires, magnets or ground markings. They cannot adapt routes on the fly, requiring heavy infrastructure investment and offering little flexibility when workflows change.
• Autonomous mobile robots: AMRs feature dynamic path planning using onboard sensors but are typically limited to 2D indoor navigation. They demand medium infrastructure investment and have limited capabilities to operate outdoors.

Cartken added that both AGVs and AMRs share a critical weakness: they struggle with uneven ground, ramps, curbs and weather-exposed areas. The company said this is where Hauler offers an alternative.

“Unlike traditional mobile robots, Cartken Hauler was designed to overcome these challenges from the start,” Bersch said. “It offers the flexibility and robustness that industrial players need to manage material handling seamlessly across outdoor and indoor environments.”