March 1, 2024
This article originally appeared in Bloomberg
Forklift Drivers Wanted: Can Work Remotely
Logistics giant Geodis SA says it plans to begin using remote-operated forklifts in its warehouses. The Paris-based company announced early Wednesday that it has formed a partnership with Silicon Valley start-up Phantom Auto to supply tele-operations. The two companies began working together in 2019 to test remote-operated forklifts in a warehouse in Le Mans, France. With that pilot successfully concluded, Geodis is working on a plan to deploy the technology commercially, according to Stéphanie Hervé, the company’s chief operation officer for Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “We need to do it step by step,” said Hervé in a call last week. “We will not replace everything at one time.”
Phantom Auto’s technology allows “digital drivers,” as Geodis calls them, to sit at a console and operate a forklift from thousands of miles away. “I am here in my office in Paris,” said Hervé, “And I can see the warehouse with a 360-degree view. I hear everything. I have a steering wheel. I have pedals. And I can drive the forklift.”
Founded in 2017, Phantom originally planned to provide remote assistance for fleets of self-driving cars, but has found more immediate use for its technology in logistics and delivery. In the U.S., remote operators use Phantom’s system to help food delivery robots navigate bumpy sidewalks and to tow trailers from dock to dock at shipping yards.
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About Phantom Auto
Phantom Auto specializes in remote operation of all types of unmanned vehicles with customers throughout the world. The company’s interoperable solution enables people to remotely monitor, assist, and operate fleets of unmanned vehicles from up to thousands of miles away – including forklifts, robots, trucks, passenger vehicles, and more. Phantom Auto's proprietary teleoperation software delivers secure, low-latency communication over volatile wireless networks for reliable sensor streaming and safe control of vehicle functions.
Founded in 2017 by Shai Magzimof, Elliot Katz, and Ohad Dvir, Phantom Auto is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Maniv Mobility and other strategic investors.
