Autonomous inventory specialist Corvus Robotics has launched dedicated drone systems capable of operating continuously in industrial freezers, addressing one of warehouse automation’s most challenging environments. The Corvus One for Cold Chain platform manages inventory in temperatures as low as minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit, eliminating the need for workers to conduct manual counts in harsh sub-zero conditions.
Cold storage facilities have long resisted inventory automation due to frost, airflow, condensation, and glare—conditions that degrade conventional sensors and scanning systems. Corvus One for Cold Chain required substantial engineering modifications to thermal management, sensing capabilities, flight stability, and onboard perception systems to maintain autonomous operation despite these challenges.
The platform uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with adaptive focus and exposure control, ensuring reliable label capture despite ice buildup or damaged barcodes common in freezer environments. Flight control algorithms automatically stabilize the drones against strong airflow from freezer blowers and door activity, allowing normal warehouse operations to continue without modification.
Unlike many warehouse automation systems requiring facility modifications, Corvus One operates without Wi-Fi, localization markers, special lighting, or modified barcodes. This infrastructure-free approach lowers adoption barriers in facilities where retrofits are expensive and operational disruption is unacceptable. Warehouses can deploy the system across existing layouts without altering workflows or infrastructure.
The drones fly autonomously during active shifts, adapting to environmental conditions while delivering frequent cycle counts. Automated battery management and device health monitoring maintain continuous uptime under Corvus Robotics’ Robots-as-a-Service model, eliminating the need for on-site drone operators.
The platform builds on Corvus Robotics’ AI world model, enabling autonomous navigation and perception without human intervention. The system processes visual data in real-time to understand its environment, navigate safely around obstacles, and capture inventory information accurately across varying lighting and environmental conditions.
The drones operate at walking speed, using advanced obstacle detection to avoid collisions with people, forklifts, or other robots sharing the warehouse space. This safe integration into active facilities allows continuous inventory management without disrupting picking, replenishment, or shipping operations.
