6 River Systems
US warehouse AMR maker and Ocado subsidiary; Chuck robots deployed in 100+ facilities, boosting picker productivity for DHL, GXO, and others.
6 River Systems (6RS) is a Waltham, Massachusetts-based autonomous mobile robot (AMR) company specialising in collaborative fulfillment solutions for warehousing and logistics. The company was founded in 2015 by Rylan Hamilton, Jerome Dubois, and Chris Cacioppo — all former executives of Kiva Systems, the warehouse robotics pioneer that Amazon acquired in 2012 to create Amazon Robotics.
6 River Systems developed Chuck, a collaborative AMR designed to work alongside human warehouse pickers in a shared floor environment. Rather than fully automating picking, Chuck acts as a mobile workstation that follows workers through the warehouse, carrying items and guiding pickers to optimal pick locations via an onboard display. The system integrates with warehouse management software (WMS) and dynamically routes workers based on real-time order data. According to the company, Chuck deployments can increase picker productivity by up to 10% year-over-year, with a reported ROI achievable in as few as nine months.
6RS achieved significant commercial traction prior to acquisition. Its Chuck robots were deployed in over 100 warehouses across the United States, Canada, and Europe, serving more than 70 enterprise customers. Notable clients include DHL, GXO Logistics, and Tagg Logistics. The system processes over one million units weekly across its deployed base.
In September 2019, Shopify Inc. acquired 6 River Systems for approximately $450 million (60% cash, 40% Shopify shares), intending to expand its logistics infrastructure to support Shopify Fulfillment Network. However, as Shopify later divested its logistics operations, 6RS was sold to UK-based Ocado Group in May 2023 for approximately $12.7 million — a dramatic reduction from the original acquisition price.
As a subsidiary of Ocado Group, 6 River Systems operates under the brand identity '6 River Systems, Part of Ocado Group.' Ocado intends to use 6RS's collaborative AMR technology to expand into markets beyond its core e-commerce grocery automation expertise, including general merchandise retail, apparel, health and beauty, and third-party logistics (3PL). The 6river.com website remains active as of 2026, and the company continues operations with approximately 125 employees globally.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Chuck
Collaborative AMR that guides and assists warehouse pickers, integrating with WMS for dynamic route optimisation.
Contact 6 River Systems
WEBSITE
https://6river.com/PHONE
(866) 602-4825HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2015
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
-
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Artificial Intelligence Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) Industrial Robots Markets / Industries News Opinion
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Artificial Intelligence Design / Development Events Human Robot Interaction / Haptics Logistics Manufacturing
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