Boston Dynamics' new robot Stretch can help move boxes in warehouses

Boston Dynamics, the company many people know for its dog robot Spot, has unveiled a new bot targeting warehouses.

The company's new robot called Stretch was designed for moving boxes at warehouses and distribution centers.

Stretch features a small, omni-directional mobile base, a custom-designed lightweight arm and a smart-gripper with advanced sensing and controls to handle a variety of packages.

"Warehouses are struggling to meet rapidly increasing demand as the world relies more on just-in-time delivery of goods," said Robert Playter, CEO of Boston Dynamics, in a statement Monday. "Mobile robots enable the flexible movement of materials and improve working conditions for employees."

Boston Dynamics said it plans to deploy Stretch starting in 2022.

The company has a reputation for creating eye-catching robots, including Spot, which can be used to automate inspection tasks and data capture, and Atlas, a humanoid that could run and jump on its own.