A Milestone in Rockwell Automation’s Robotics Journey
Rockwell Automation Inc. has announced a major manufacturing milestone — the first autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have rolled off its Milwaukee production line. This achievement comes just a year after Rockwell acquired Clearpath Robotics in 2023, reinforcing its commitment to advancing automation in the era of smart manufacturing.
Now rebranded as OTTO by Rockwell Automation, the division represents the company’s deepened investment in industrial mobility, AI-driven logistics, and operational autonomy.
Milwaukee Becomes the Hub for OTTO AMR Production
The new 25,000-square-foot OTTO production facility within Rockwell’s Milwaukee campus is dedicated to assembling the OTTO 600 and OTTO 1200 AMRs. These robots are engineered to move heavy materials safely and efficiently across dynamic and space-constrained factory floors.
By minimizing dependence on manual forklifts, Rockwell’s AMRs enhance worker safety, reduce transition times, and prevent product damage — all while supporting more resilient and sustainable operations.
In parallel, Clearpath and OTTO will continue to produce AMRs in Ontario, Canada, while the Milwaukee site boosts capacity and brings production closer to U.S. customers.
Part of Rockwell’s $2 Billion Modernization Strategy
The AMR rollout is part of Rockwell Automation’s larger $2 billion investment initiative, aimed at strengthening its global manufacturing network through new plants, advanced digital infrastructure, and workforce expansion.
This investment underscores Rockwell’s ambition to capture greater market share, build supply chain resilience, and expand profit margins as demand for smart factory solutions accelerates worldwide.
Intelligent Navigation and Safety at the Core
The new generation of OTTO AMRs is designed with cutting-edge autonomous navigation and safety technologies that enable seamless coordination and decision-making on the factory floor:
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High-Frequency Laser Scanning: Each AMR uses advanced laser scanners that sweep its environment more than 30 times per second, creating and continuously updating a high-precision virtual map.
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Collaborative Awareness: The robots share spatial data, allowing them to recognize the location and movement of other AMRs — even around corners or behind obstacles.
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Performance Validation: Before shipment, every OTTO AMR completes over 15 miles (24 km) of autonomous driving tests to ensure operational reliability and readiness.
These innovations enable safe, flexible, and adaptive movement of goods in complex production environments — a key requirement for Industry 4.0-ready factories.
Driving the Future of Connected, Autonomous Manufacturing
The launch of OTTO AMRs in Milwaukee marks more than a production milestone — it represents Rockwell Automation’s vision for autonomous, data-driven manufacturing ecosystems.
By integrating mobility, AI, and automation under one unified platform, Rockwell is enabling manufacturers to achieve higher throughput, lower costs, and greater agility across their operations.
As factories evolve into intelligent, connected systems, the combination of Rockwell’s control expertise and OTTO’s autonomous robotics positions the company as a leading force in shaping the next generation of smart manufacturing.