Third Wave Automation Autonomous Forklifts & ArmadaFMS

Third Wave Automation was founded in 2018 in Union City, California. It builds shared-autonomy forklifts and the ArmadaFMS fleet management software, offered as Robotics-as-a-Service.

The forklifts run fully autonomous, remote-assist, remote-operation or manual on the same truck, with 360-degree 3D perception that detects people, forklifts and payloads. One operator can supervise ten or more trucks. Armada Supply Chain Solutions is the featured customer.

• Shared autonomy: autonomous, remote assist, remote operation and manual modes on one truck.
• 360-degree perception: 3D detection of people, forklifts and payloads.
• Dynamic zones: warehouse zones reconfigured as operations change.
• ArmadaFMS: fleet management with real-time inventory tracking.
• Floor-based personnel protection: safety around workers.

Trailer and container loading at distribution dock doors. Pallet moves between receiving and storage in 3PL warehouses. Dock-to-dock transfers in manufacturing plants.

Brownfield pilot ran almost 70% autonomously at Armada Supply Chain Solutions. One operator can supervise 10 or more forklifts. Every pick, drop and location is tracked in real time. Robotics-as-a-Service avoids large upfront capital.

Forklift driver shortages and rising labor costs push warehouses toward autonomy that keeps a human in the loop. Shared autonomy suits Vietnamese warehouses that cannot rebuild layouts for fully autonomous systems.

Founded 2018 in Union City, California. Technology collaboration with The Raymond Corporation, part of Toyota Material Handling North America, on select Raymond lift trucks. Backed earlier by Toyota Ventures and Woven Capital.