Corvus Robotics today announced Corvus One for Cold Chain. The autonomous inventory management system is designed to operate continuously in freezer environments ranging from -20ºF (-6.6ºC) to ambient temperatures.
“Operating autonomous aerial systems continuously in freezer environments is an engineering challenge most robotics platforms were never designed to handle,” stated Jackie Wu, CEO of Corvus Robotics.
Corvus Robotics claimed that it provides “the first and only autonomous inventory management system with warehouse drones running on an AI world model.” The Mountain View, Calif.-based company deploys fully autonomous drones built in the U.S. and offers them via a robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) model.
Cold chain presents challenges for inventory counts
Short shelf lives, strict FIFO (first-in, first-out) requirements, and expanding SKU counts make frozen inventory especially difficult to manage. Ice buildup, condensation, glare, and damaged labels degrade the performance of conventional scanning systems.
In addition, freezer operations drive higher labor costs due to specialized gear, limited exposure windows, and shorter shifts, noted 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,” Wu said. “The result is a system that performs reliably in environments that have historically defeated automation.”
The system is designed to deliver frequent, accurate inventory cycle counts without human intervention, enabling operators to maintain real-time visibility while keeping labor and equipment out of harsh freezer conditions.
Register now for the 2026 Robotics SummitHow Corvus One works
The drone-based system 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 frozen storage environments.
Corvus One can perform 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, claimed Corvus Robotics.
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 a RaaS model.
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.
The inventory drone also automatically stabilizes flight to compensate for strong airflow, allowing freezer blowers and door activity to operate normally.
Kroger is already Corvus One for Cold Chain in live freezer operations. The system is delivering consistent inventory visibility to the leading national grocer and reducing reliance on manual cycle counts in sub-zero environments, said Corvus Robotics.
The provider of physical AI robotic systems for logistics and warehousing operations will be in Booth 1565 at Manifest in Las Vegas this week.
