Zebra Applied sciences is winding down its autonomous cell robotic (AMR) division. The group was constructed round Zebra’s $290 million acquisition of AMR maker Fetch Robotics in 2021. The transfer marks a strategic retreat from the robotics push Zebra launched to develop its warehouse automation capabilities.
It’s unclear precisely how this story will finish. In keeping with a number of sources, Zebra is trying to promote its robotics division or finally shut it down. In keeping with the sources, a lot of the robotics employees will likely be let go by the top of 2025.
About 25% of the employees will keep on till March 2026 to handle present deployments. A number of former staff of Zebra’s AMR group posted yesterday on LinkedIn that they’re searching for new roles.
The way forward for the robots in buyer websites now possible seems tied as to if Zebra can promote the group to a brand new proprietor. Zebra didn’t get away the AMR group’s income individually in earnings studies, so it’s unclear what number of robots are within the area or how a lot income the division made at Zebra.
“Zebra Applied sciences has determined to discover strategic choices for our robotics automation enterprise,” the firm stated in an emailed assertion to The Robotic Report. “This transfer will allow Zebra to additional sharpen our strategic concentrate on digitizing and automating frontline workflows and on our investments in key progress areas. Long run, we’ll proceed to supply options that empower organizations to extend productiveness, optimize stock, and higher serve shoppers and sufferers throughout the industries we serve.”
Zebra Applied sciences’ AMR portfolio.
Zebra Applied sciences had invested in new Fetch robots
Shortly after the acquisition, Fetch launched three new AMRs and a brand new success software program package deal for order or batch selecting. It additionally launched new robots and enhancements at MODEX 2024.
Earlier in 2025, the corporate launched a robot-assisted selecting answer referred to as Zebra Symmetry Success that mixed AMRs with wearable applied sciences, software program, and analytics to spice up productiveness and reduce prices.
Lower than two months in the past, Zebra stated that ODW Logistics was anticipating a 42% enchancment in decide charges because of its current adoption of the AMRs.
Whereas Zebra had continued investing in its cell robotics group, one supply informed The Robotic Report that the AMR enterprise wasn’t scaling shortly sufficient for its liking. In consequence, Zebra selected to refocus on its core strengths — provide chain applied sciences outdoors of robotics.
Earlier than buying Fetch in 2021, Zebra Applied sciences already owned 5% of Fetch Robotics via an earlier funding. At time of the acquisition, Zebra stated the firm was producing annualized run-rate gross sales of roughly $10 million. Previous to this acquisition, Fetch had raised about $94 million.
The Fetch cell manipulator and Freight AMR base. Supply: Fetch Robotics
Fetch was a cell robotic pioneer
Fetch Robotics was based in 2014 by robotics pioneer Melonee Smart. The corporate developed a variety of AMRs primarily based on the open-source Robotic Working System (ROS). They had been designed to maneuver supplies, help pickers, and automate repetitive duties in success facilities.
Fetch initially constructed a cell manipulator, although it finally served as a analysis and improvement platform. In its early years, OpenAI used the Fetch system to experiment with how machine studying may advance cell manipulation capabilities.
Fetch gained some traction with e-commerce, third-party logistics, and manufacturing clients. Zebra Applied sciences acquired the AMR maker to reinforce its already sturdy portfolio of provide chain applied sciences.
After serving as Zebra’s vp and basic supervisor of robotics automation for about two years, Smart joined humanoid developer Agility Robotics as chief know-how officer in Could 2023. She then turned Agility’s chief product officer in Could 2024.
Smart left Agility in August 2025 and was lately named chief product officer for KUKA AG’s new software program and AI group in Silicon Valley.
Beforehand, Smart was the second worker at Willow Storage, the place she led a workforce of engineers creating next-generation robotic {hardware} and software program, together with ROS, the PR2, and TurtleBot.
