Hyundai-backed Boston Dynamics has unveiled Stretch Gen 2, a next-generation autonomous robot designed to unload trailers faster and reduce maintenance downtime in high-volume logistics operations.Built on data from more than 100,000 operating hours and tens of millions of boxes unloaded by its predecessor, the upgraded robot features a redesigned gripper, improved sensing, 81 percent less internal cabling, and modular components that allow faster repairs.The changes are aimed at preventing mechanical wear and electrical faults that could take the robot offline. Boston Dynamics has also redesigned its exterior panels to withstand falling boxes and repositioned the emergency stop button to reduce accidental safety stoppages.“Our customers count on Stretch to keep freight moving, and every hour a robot sits idle is an hour of work that piles up on the dock,” said Brian Donnelly, Vice President & General Manager of Logistics Robotics at Boston Dynamics. “With Gen 2, we focused on the things that actually took robots offline in the real world. We made it tougher, we made it simpler to service, and we made sure it keeps getting better long after it’s deployed.”Faster repairs keep robots workingThe redesigned robot also aims to make maintenance less time-consuming when components need replacement. Boston Dynamics said a complete swerve drive swap now takes about one hour, compared with an entire day previously.The company has removed dynamic cables and complex wiring harnesses, replacing them with a simpler architecture and standardized high-strength fasteners. These changes are intended to reduce the number of tools required during repairs and shorten the time technicians spend working on the machine.Stretch Gen 2 also includes onboard diagnostics and maintenance tools that allow customers’ own maintenance teams to handle more routine servicing. This could reduce dependence on external support and help keep robots operating on busy warehouse docks.Software updates improve performanceBeyond its mechanical changes, Stretch Gen 2 runs on a redesigned onboard computing platform that supports continuous software improvements. Boston Dynamics said regular software releases will improve case detection, motion planning, picking strategies and world modeling across deployed robot fleets.These updates can deliver performance improvements without requiring customers to replace or upgrade the robot’s physical hardware.The robot can unload up to 1,000 cases per hour, although actual throughput depends on factors such as box weight and how neatly or irregularly packages are stacked inside trailers. A multipick feature allows it to handle multiple boxes in a single picking cycle to reach higher throughput rates.Its battery is designed to last two work shifts, while a fast charger can restore the charge to 90 percent in approximately 75 minutes. Onboard lighting also allows the robot to operate inside dark trailers, where visibility can be limited.Stretch comes with a pre-trained vision system that can identify most packages from the first day of deployment without requiring additional programming.Boston Dynamics has positioned Stretch as a solution for automating one of the more physically demanding tasks in logistics. Trailer unloading involves handling large volumes of packages in confined spaces, often under varying lighting conditions and with boxes stacked in unpredictable arrangements.The second-generation model builds on the company’s existing deployments, with a stronger focus on reliability, serviceability, and sustained performance in demanding warehouse environments.