A job for a robot – How machines help to save energy

They check temperatures, report faults and detect leaks before humans notice them. Robots could soon take on a central role in energy management in logistics and retail.

The future has suction cups. And sensors. And sometimes four legs.

Anyone looking around the highly automated warehouses of large retail companies today will increasingly encounter a new colleague: the robot. But they are no longer just busy sorting boxes or transporting goods – they are also helping to save energy.

In times of rising energy prices, stricter climate regulations and increasing regulatory requirements, one topic is at the top of the agenda in logistics centers, warehouses and cold chains: energy efficiency. While smart sensor technology and software solutions have long since been introduced, a new chapter is now opening up – that of mobile, intelligent robotics as a supplement to traditional energy management.

While many companies still rely on permanently installed sensors and traditional building management systems for energy management, the Lithuanian company Exergio is going one step further. Since March, it has been testing humanoid robots equipped with the GR00T open AI system from NVIDIA. In large commercial properties, they will not only record data, but also interpret it in real time, detect faults and respond to them directly – faster and more precisely than human specialists could.

“Managing energy in commercial buildings is complex,” says Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO of Exergio. “It's not just about switching off the lights or regulating the heating. It needs continuous monitoring, predictive analytics and the ability to act immediately.” Robots could, for example, detect overheated components at an early stage or verify false alarms before unnecessary resources are tied up. “They can check system warnings on site, inspect critical systems and assist with maintenance. This reduces downtime and improves response times.”

A broad pool of data from existing buildings serves as the basis. For example, Exergio has already reduced energy consumption in the Ozas shopping center in Vilnius by 29% with the help of AI-supported systems - an indication of the additional potential that could be tapped into through the use of robotics.

Während viele Unternehmen beim Energiemanagement noch auf fest installierte Sensoren und klassische Gebäudeleittechnik setzen, geht das litauische Unternehmen Exergio einen Schritt weiter. Es testet seit März humanoide Roboter, die mit dem offenen KI-System GR00T von NVIDIA ausgestattet sind. Sie sollen in großen Gewerbeimmobilien nicht nur Daten erfassen, sondern diese in Echtzeit interpretieren, Störungen erkennen und direkt darauf reagieren – schneller und präziser, als es menschliche Fachkräfte leisten könnten.

„Energie in kommerziellen Gebäuden zu managen, ist komplex“, sagt Donatas Karčiauskas, CEO von Exergio. „Es geht nicht nur darum, Lichter auszuschalten oder die Heizung zu regeln. Es braucht eine kontinuierliche Überwachung, vorausschauende Analysen und die Fähigkeit, sofort zu handeln.“ Roboter könnten beispielsweise überhitzte Komponenten frühzeitig erkennen oder Fehlalarme verifizieren, bevor unnötige Ressourcen gebunden werden. „Sie können Systemwarnungen vor Ort überprüfen, kritische Anlagen inspizieren und bei der Wartung unterstützen. Das reduziert Ausfallzeiten und verbessert die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit.“

Als Grundlage dient ein breiter Datenpool aus Bestandsgebäuden. Exergio hatte etwa im Einkaufszentrum Ozas in Vilnius mithilfe KI-gestützter Systeme den Energieverbrauch bereits um 29 Prozent gesenkt – ein Hinweis darauf, welches zusätzliche Potenzial durch den Einsatz von Robotik erschlossen werden könnte.

Robots could also make a decisive contribution to energy efficiency in cold chain logistics in the future. This is because the savings potential is particularly high in areas where low temperatures have to be maintained at all times – as is the complexity.

According to a report by British refrigerated transport specialist Fresh Logistics, robots could in future measure, document and intervene around the clock, even in cold, difficult-to-access areas. Especially in times of ESG reporting, i.e. the question of how companies document their ecological and social behavior, and rising climate standards, this ability is worth its weight in gold – or at least relevant to energy prices.

The range of possible applications is wide: autonomous transport robots that precisely control cooling zones; drones that record temperature curves; robotic arms that handle goods with minimal energy consumption. Above all, however, a new interplay is emerging between mechanical action and data-driven control – traditional energy management is being expanded to include a physically active, mobile component.

The example of the Otto Group shows just how close the connection between robotics and energy management already is. The retail giant relies on two robots from Boston Dynamics: Stretch, which unloads containers autonomously, and Spot, a four-legged walking robot equipped with thermal imaging cameras and acoustic sensors. Its task: to regularly check for leaks, temperature changes or conspicuous noises in highly complex systems – a classic application for predictive maintenance.

“In fully automated logistics operations, it is crucial that even hard-to-reach places are regularly monitored - for example, for leaks or changes in noise,” explains Raphael Adrian Maier, Group Vice President Supply Chain Management at the Otto Group. “Until now, expensive monitoring equipment had to be installed at every critical point. This is exactly where the Spot comes in; it is mobile and brings the equipment to where it is needed.”

This is not a replacement for human labor – but an extension. “The robots can't be left alone,” says Maier. “They take on difficult tasks, but need to be instructed precisely.” In future, this guidance could even be provided from home. Maier assumes that the use of robotics will also change the HR sector: “Roughly speaking, mental work will replace physical work. Employees will become managers of robots.”

The use of robots in energy management is still far from widespread. But the potential is huge – especially in large retail environments with high energy requirements: from logistics centers to supermarket cold stores and urban distribution centers. The technology is developing rapidly and the systems are learning. And the pressure to act is growing.

After all, energy is no longer a by-product of logistics – it has become a strategic resource. And if you want to manage this resource intelligently, you need tools that are flexible, autonomous and capable of learning. Perhaps soon with suction cups. Or with four legs.