Fox Robotics has unveiled the FoxBot Mk3, the third-generation autonomous forklift, designed to revolutionize warehouse automation by expanding its applications and extending its capabilities to serve a broader range of industries. This latest iteration of the FoxBot enhances warehouse efficiency by incorporating autonomous dock workflows, further cementing Fox Robotics’ position as a leader in dock automation. The FoxBot Mk3 will be showcased at ProMat 2025, allowing attendees to witness its innovative capabilities in action.
Advancing Dock Autonomy with FoxBot Mk3
The FoxBot Mk3 integrates cutting-edge technology to improve productivity and streamline warehouse operations. “Fox Robotics is the unequivocal leader in dock autonomy today, demonstrated by the new technology and capabilities we’ve built into the third-generation FoxBot,” stated Marin Tchakarov, CEO and President of Fox Robotics.
The Mk3 introduces four major enhancements:
- Autonomous Trailer Loading – In addition to unloading, the Mk3 can now autonomously load trailers, allowing for fully automated inbound and outbound dock operations.
- Auto-Adjusting Fork Tines – The Mk3 can automatically adapt its fork tine width to accommodate a wider variety of pallet sizes and load configurations.
- Enhanced Software Integrations – Seamless connectivity with warehouse management systems (WMS) ensures smooth coordination between automated systems.
- Expanded Sensor Suite – Additional cameras and LiDAR sensors improve navigation, safety, and real-time perception, making warehouse operations safer and more efficient.
Breakthrough Innovations: Autonomous Trailer Loading & Vision System Enhancements
The introduction of autonomous trailer loading is a game-changer for warehouse logistics. The FoxBot Mk3 is now capable of picking, moving, and loading single or double-stacked pallets into and out of trailers with precision. This new feature enhances warehouse throughput by eliminating the need for manual loading processes.
Additionally, the Mk3’s upgraded sensor suite enhances its vision system. With a combination of onboard cameras and LiDAR technology, the forklift can identify pallets and detect obstacles in real time. The expanded sensor suite improves its ability to dynamically track and understand its surroundings, ensuring a smooth and safe workflow within the warehouse.
The autonomous forklift’s advanced visual perception models enable it to pick pallets in any orientation, even in trailers it has never encountered before. The Mk3 can also handle complex load configurations, including single-stacked, double-stacked, and pyramid-stacked pallets. It even accommodates pallets wrapped in plastic, demonstrating its adaptability to various warehouse environments.
Auto-Adjusting Forks: Enhanced Handling of Load Profiles
A key innovation in the FoxBot Mk3 is its auto-adjusting fork tines. New cameras integrated into the forklift’s mast allow it to identify pallet pockets and automatically adjust the fork width to securely lift and transport pallets in any orientation. This eliminates the need for manual fork adjustments, making the Mk3 ideal for handling diverse load types in industrial and manufacturing warehouses.
By adapting to different pallet configurations, the FoxBot Mk3 improves operational efficiency and reduces downtime associated with manual interventions. This enhancement enables warehouses to streamline their workflows, regardless of the variety of pallets being processed.
Seamless Integration with Warehouse Automation Systems
The Mk3 is designed to operate as part of a fully integrated warehouse automation ecosystem. It can pick up and drop off pallets from elevated conveyors, staging floors, trailers, and automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). By connecting seamlessly with WMS platforms, the Mk3 enables coordinated operations between multiple automated systems, enhancing overall warehouse productivity.
Warehouse operators can deploy the FoxBot Mk3 individually or as part of a fleet, ensuring that operations remain scalable and adaptable. Its integration capabilities allow it to function as a central component in high-efficiency fulfillment centers, facilitating smooth transitions between storage, retrieval, and transportation processes.
Enhancing Warehouse Productivity and Safety
By automating time-consuming and repetitive tasks, the FoxBot Mk3 significantly improves warehouse productivity while supporting a safer work environment. The Mk3 mitigates common challenges associated with manual forklift operations, such as delays, inconsistencies, and workplace injuries.
Equipped with real-time perception sensors and proprietary software, the FoxBot Mk3 navigates warehouse floors with precision, avoiding obstacles and ensuring safe pallet handling. Key performance highlights include:
- The ability to unload over 50 double-stacked or 25 single-stacked pallets (40×48 inches) in under an hour.
- 360-degree monitoring supported by LiDAR sensors and cameras for real-time obstacle detection and avoidance.
- Fully redundant safety braking systems to prevent collisions and enhance worker safety.
- Extended operational capabilities with 16-18-hour shifts on a single battery charge.
- Connectivity to cellular and Wi-Fi networks, enabling deployment within hours.
About Fox Robotics
Founded in 2017, Fox Robotics is a pioneer in autonomous pallet workflows, committed to enhancing workplace safety and productivity across warehouses in the U.S. and Canada. The company is recognized for developing the world’s first autonomous trailer loader/unloader, the FoxBot.
Since its introduction in 2018, the FoxBot autonomous forklift has been deployed at over 50 customer sites, successfully completing more than 6 million lifetime pallet pulls. Fox Robotics’ customer base includes industry giants such as DHL, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Walmart.
Fox Robotics continues to push the boundaries of warehouse automation, with backing from leading investors, including BMW i Ventures and Zebra Technologies Corp. To learn more about Fox Robotics and the FoxBot Mk3, visit FoxRobotics.com or follow Fox Robotics on LinkedIn.
The FoxBot Mk3 marks a significant milestone in warehouse automation, offering enhanced efficiency, adaptability, and safety. With its groundbreaking advancements in autonomous dock workflows, Fox Robotics is setting new standards for productivity in the logistics and supply chain industry.