Comau Deploys ROS 2-Based Cobot System for Decathlon Fulfillment

Comau has designed and validated a new automated order-preparation system for Decathlon’s e-commerce fulfillment operations. The project marks a significant step in integrating collaborative robotics into high-volume retail logistics to increase operational flexibility.

The system centers on the integration of Comau’s MyCo collaborative robot (cobot) with a ROS 2-based software architecture and a modular gripper. The solution utilizes vision-based object recognition and AI to automate the picking, handling, and palletizing of variable product flows. This development was executed as part of the MASTERLY project, a European initiative involving partners such as Decathlon and the Genoa-based systems integrator STAM.

Transitioning to Flexible Manufacturing

The MASTERLY project, running from 2023 to 2026, is designed to transition traditional mass production toward flexible, customized manufacturing systems. While often applied to factory floors, the initiative has extended its scope to sportswear logistics at Decathlon to address the volatility of e-commerce demands. This shift is part of a broader trend where logistics providers move away from rigid, single-purpose automation toward reconfigurable systems that can be updated via software.

Comau is currently expanding its strategic focus on intralogistics, a move supported by the acquisitions of firms such as Automha and Invent. For Decathlon, this project continues a long-term strategy of robotics integration, having previously partnered with firms including Exotec, Geek+, PAL Robotics, and Simbe Robotics to optimize its supply chain.

Implications for Logistics

This deployment demonstrates the practical application of open-source software, specifically ROS 2, to create logistics systems that can adapt rapidly to changing market demands and product variability. By utilizing cobots rather than traditional industrial robots, the system improves workplace ergonomics and reduces the physical strain on human operators who work alongside the machinery.

Alessandro Piscioneri, head of product and solution management of advanced automation solutions at Comau, stated that the company's role in the MASTERLY project aligns with a commitment to advancing next-generation manufacturing by promoting reconfigurability, efficiency, and human-centric automation.

Future Outlook

As the MASTERLY project continues through 2026, the industry will be watching how these AI-backed, reconfigurable systems scale across other sectors. The success of the Decathlon validation serves as a blueprint for how sportswear and retail logistics can handle diverse product catalogs without requiring a complete hardware overhaul for every new product line. Further details on the long-term throughput gains and the specific scaling of the ROS 2 architecture within Decathlon's wider network remain to be seen.