Lab0 unveils industrial humanoid-inspired system for automated warehouse operations

Lab0, a Washington-based robotics and automation company, officially emerged from stealth mode and introduced RoboGlide, which the company said is the first industrial humanoid-inspired system designed for fully automated inbound warehouse operations.

The company spent over two years of development under the radar, and its technology integrates multiple stages of warehouse logistics - from shipping container unloading to product identification, damage detection, weighing, sorting, palletizing and wrapping - into a unified, scalable, flexible and modular system.

Along with the product announcement, Lab0 also said that the system is already deployed at one of the world’s top 10 single price-point small box retailers, showcasing its ability to address complex logistics challenges with efficiency and speed. Lab0 said it utilizes global robotics talent, NVIDIA’s Isaac Lab and Omniverse technologies and advanced machine learning to employ a simulation-first approach that drives AI-powered precision in logistics automation.

Customer-centric approach to automation

Lab0 said its automation strategy focuses on solving real-world, customer-specific challenges. RoboGlide’s patented dual-arm picking robotics, advanced Percept0 vision system and intelligent decision-making capabilities streamline handling diverse inventory while significantly reducing inefficiencies.

The resulting system forms a scalable logistics framework that the company said sets a new industry standard in how autonomous logistics should be designed, developed and integrated. Lab0’s technology is rooted in deep AI, machine learning, computer vision, and motion planning expertise, developing their own custom systems to solve these complex problems.

Lab0’s first customer, a $30B small box retailer that is one of the largest importers of goods into the US, has already integrated this technology as part of a broader initiative to optimize warehouse operations. Unlike traditional material-handling solutions, Lab0 said it delivers a modular, scalable approach to automation, enabling seamless expansion across distribution networks. The company said that unlike many automation providers, Lab0 does not provide ‘point solutions’, rather Lab0 use their vast experience in logistics and automation to provide full system technologies that solve complete problems for customers.

Lab0 leadership features years of industry experience

Lab0 was founded by David McCalib, an MIT alumnus and robotics pioneer who played a pivotal role in integrating Amazon’s acquisition of Kiva Robotics and leading advanced computer vision projects.

“Our work begins with listening to our customers’ needs and delivering technology that solves their most pressing problems at scale,” McCalib said. “Everything we build reflects a commitment to real-world impact and tangible results.”

Steve Toebes, CEO of Lab0 and a founding innovator at Symbotic, also brings decades of experience in delivering transformative robotics systems. Together, Lab0 said that McCalib and Toebes have combined deep robotics and logistics expertise with a relentless focus on simplicity, scalability and customer success.

“Lab0 is more than a robotics company - it’s a movement to transform logistics,” Toebes said. “Our RoboGlide system is the first in a suite of flexible, modular solutions designed to work seamlessly together, automating entire facilities and delivering meaningful results for our customers.”

Supply Chain Zero

Lab0’s “Supply Chain Zero” initiative is the company’s bold vision to eliminate inefficiencies, waste and redundancies in logistics. The initiative combines AI-driven automation and real-time analytics to support sustainable, efficient and future-proof operations in industrial environments.

As labor shortages, rising costs and logistics challenges heighten the need for innovation, Lab0 is set to showcase its industrial humanoid-inspired system at ProMat 2025 and NVIDIA GTC 2025.