Manifest 2026: Corvus Robotics launches dedicated cold chain drones

Corvus Robotics, a provider of autonomous inventory management systems, announced Corvus One for Cold Chain at Manifest 2026 in Las Vegas.

The company said its system is engineered to operate continuously in freezer environments ranging from minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit to ambient temperatures.

Corvus One for Cold Chain deployed at Kroger

Designed to withstand extreme cold, airflow, frost, and condensation, Corvus said that the system delivers frequent, accurate inventory cycle counts via drones and without human intervention, enabling operators to maintain real-time visibility while keeping labor and equipment out of harsh freezer conditions.

Kroger is already using Corvus One for Cold Chain in live freezer operations, and Corvus said the system is delivering consistent inventory visibility and reducing reliance on manual cycle counts in sub-zero environments.

“Operating autonomous aerial systems continuously in freezer environments is an engineering challenge most robotics platforms were never designed to handle,” said Jackie Wu, CEO of Corvus Robotics. “Corvus One for Cold Chain required re-architecting thermal management, sensing, flight stability and onboard perception so the system could maintain autonomy and accuracy despite frost, glare, airflow and extreme temperature swings. The result is a system that performs reliably in environments that have historically defeated automation.”

The company said that Corvus One for Cold Chain maintains full flight and scanning performance in sub-zero conditions using industrial-grade barcode scanners that provide precise control over focus and exposure. The system adapts to each environment to maintain barcode readability despite frost or glare, and automatically stabilizes flight to compensate for strong airflow, allowing freezer blowers and door activity to operate normally.

In October 2024, Corvus Robotics secured a further $18 million in funding and updated its Corvus One system.

Corvus Robotics provided the following potential benefits of the Corvus One for Cold Chain system:

• High-frequency inventory audits for freezer SKU velocity
  • Short shelf lives, strict FIFO requirements and expanding SKU counts make frozen inventory especially difficult to manage. Corvus One performs frequent, fully autonomous cycle counts to keep inventory data continuously current. Operators gain precise visibility into pallet positions and dwell time, reducing write-offs, improving replenishment accuracy and enabling tighter space optimization.
• Reduced labor exposure and improved worker safety
  • Freezer operations drive higher labor costs due to specialized gear, limited exposure windows and shorter shifts. Corvus One for Cold Chain operates autonomously in temperatures as low as -20°F, eliminating the need for associates to enter freezer aisles for routine inventory counts and reducing both safety risk and labor overhead.
• Reliable barcode capture in sub-zero conditions
  • Ice buildup, condensation, glare and damaged labels degrade the performance of conventional scanning systems. Corvus One uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with adaptive focus and exposure control, combined with stabilized flight, to consistently read frosted or low-contrast labels from multiple angles in challenging freezer environments.
• Autonomous operation without workflow disruption
  • Corvus One for Cold Chain operates without Wi-Fi, localization markers, lighting modifications or special barcodes. The system flies autonomously during active shifts, adapts to airflow from blowers and door activity, and maintains continuous uptime through automated battery and device health management under Corvus Robotics’ Robots-as-a-Service model.