Cartken Inc. and Melco Mobility Solutions Corp. last month said they are expanding their strategic partnership through a new multi-million-dollar agreement focused on industrial logistics. As part of this collaboration, Melco has placed an order for nearly 100 Cartken Hauler robots to be deployed across its industrial facilities in Japan within this fiscal year.
“We are pleased to deepen our strategic partnership with Cartken,” stated Yasuo Aoki, president and CEO of Melco Mobility Solutions. “By working with Cartken and Mitsubishi Electric to advance the deployment of automated delivery robots, we hope to contribute to solving social issues in Japan’s industrial environment.”
Osaka, Japan-based Melco Mobility Solutions is a group company of Mitsubishi Electric Corp. that distributes automotive equipment and operates a delivery robot business. Since 2022, Mitsubishi Electric and Melco have served as Cartken’s distributor and operator in Japan, advancing their strategy to expand autonomous systems and smart cities to solve the country’s growing labor and logistics challenges.
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Cartken Hauler ready for industrial usage
Melco will be scaling its deployment of the Cartken Hauler, which is designed for inter-building transport with a payload capacity of up to 660 lb. (300 kg). The delivery robot, which was released earlier this year, can autonomously navigate ramps and uneven ground in all weather conditions, according to the companies.
Cartken also touted its AI-based navigation and fleet management platform for reliable and safe operations. In addition, the Cartken Hauler offers flexibility in cargo design so it can be customized to a range of industrial use cases. For instance, Carken in May partnered with Stirling Ultracold on a freezer compartment for its robots.
“We’re proud to deepen our partnership with Melco Mobility Solutions, a group company of Mitsubishi Electric, and bring Cartken Haulers into industrial environments in Japan at scale,” said Christian Bersch, co-founder and CEO of Cartken. “This order signals trust in Cartken’s technology, and the growing need for robust, safe, and flexible robotic automation solutions that can fill a critical gap in material movement between indoor, outdoor, and multi-level environments.”
Founded in 2019 by former Google engineers, Cartken said its mobile robots and artificial intelligence can automate onsite logistics and last-mile delivery, increasing productivity and freeing human workers for higher-value tasks. The Oakland, Calif.-based company claimed that its self-driving robots can autonomously navigate diverse terrains, weather conditions, and floor levels without requiring infrastructure changes.
Mitsubishi Electric, Melco continue partnership
Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken have deployed robots across a range of use cases, from food delivery in urban areas with Uber Eats to grocery delivery with Rakuten, as well as onsite material and documents movement on corporate campuses and industrial sites.
In addition, building on Mitsubishi Electric’s long-standing leadership in elevator and building systems, the companies developed a system for elevator-integrated delivery, enabling Cartken robots to operate autonomously across multiple floors.
Mitsubishi Electric has also been a strategic investor in Cartken, participating in the company‘s latest funding round of $22.5 million in 2024.
Melco Mobility Solutions has played a critical role in localizing Cartken’s technology and navigating regulatory approvals. The “Cartken Courier” robot model (formerly known as Model C) became the first delivery robot in Japan authorized for autonomous driving on public roads at nighttime.
