When robots start handling e-commerce returns: what makes grasping irregular items difficult?

German retail group Otto will deploy AI dual-arm robots in phases at a logistics center in Poland to inspect, identify, and sort e-commerce returns. The first phase plans to deploy 10 systems, and whether 15 more will be added later depends on initial operating results. Returned goods are often crumpled, repackaged, or presented in various orientations, so the robots need to combine visual information to decide how to grasp and adjust their actions based on feedback; simulation can model different orientations and packaging to assist training. Currently, the project still lacks enough public data to judge actual efficiency and return on investment.