Pudu Robotics' New MP2000 Forklift Can Grab a Pallet in 20 Seconds, Without a Human Driver
The MP2000 autonomous pallet-mover reads its surroundings in real time, talks to doors and elevators, and keeps working even when the Wi-Fi drops.
Key points
- Pudu Robotics unveiled the MP2000 autonomous pallet-handling robot on 15 July 2025.
- The machine can complete a full pallet pickup cycle in as little as 20 seconds.
- Onboard 3D sensors let it adjust its approach path in real time, without waiting for instructions from a remote operator.
- The robot can communicate directly with facility equipment like powered doors and elevators to move between floors on its own.
- A manual override lets a human operator take direct control, turning it into a standard powered forklift.
A pallet is a flat wooden or plastic platform that goods sit on in warehouses. Moving pallets is unglamorous, repetitive work, and Pudu Robotics thinks a robot can do it faster. The Chinese robotics company yesterday revealed the MP2000, an autonomous mobile robot, meaning a self-guided vehicle that maps and moves through a real space without a fixed track or a remote human driver, built specifically for heavy pallet transport inside factories and warehouses.
The headline number is a 20-second pickup cycle. That is the time from the robot arriving at a pallet to the moment it lifts and drives away. For comparison, a trained forklift operator typically takes 30 to 60 seconds on the same task, depending on aisle width and pallet condition.
How does it see what it's doing?
The MP2000 uses 3D lidar, a sensor that fires pulses of laser light to build a precise three-dimensional map of its surroundings, alongside depth cameras that add detail at close range. Together they let the robot spot a misaligned pallet, measure it, and correct its approach angle before the forks touch the load.
That matters in real warehouses, where pallets are rarely placed perfectly. The robot handles three common pallet formats: three-runner pallets (the kind with three parallel support beams underneath), perimeter-base pallets (which have a solid outer frame), and non-standard custom carriers. It also squeezes through tight spaces by adjusting its path on the fly.
What happens when the network goes down?
The robot keeps working. The MP2000 carries enough onboard intelligence to make local decisions without a live connection to a central computer. When the warehouse Wi-Fi drops, the fleet management software switches to a mode where each robot coordinates independently, so a network outage does not freeze the floor.
When multiple MP2000 units run alongside other Pudu robots, a shared fleet management system divides tasks, resolves conflicts between vehicles, and tracks jobs across the whole site. The robot also talks directly to peripheral equipment: it can signal a powered door to open or call an elevator, so it moves between floors without needing a human escort.
| Feature | MP2000 spec |
|---|---|
| Pickup cycle time | As low as 20 seconds |
| Navigation sensors | 3D lidar plus depth cameras |
| Pallet formats supported | Three-runner, perimeter-base, custom |
| Floor-to-floor travel | Yes, via elevator integration |
| Network outage handling | Local onboard decision-making |
| Manual override | Full powered-forklift mode |
As first reported by The Robot Report, the MP2000 slots above Pudu's existing T300 delivery robot, which handles lighter loads over shorter distances. The new machine is aimed at the heavier end of warehouse work: loading docks, line-side storage beside production equipment, and floor-to-floor runs that previously needed a staffed forklift.
Pudu has not published pricing yet. The company has not confirmed whether the launch demo was fully autonomous or supervised by an operator on site.
