en.Wedoany.com Reported - US-based Apkudo announced the commercial launch of its Robotic Standalone Automation (RSA) device. Designed by Alpha Automatics and exclusively sold by Apkudo, the RSA is the first automated processing solution capable of handling a wide range of modern device form factors, including clamshell devices, foldable screens, and tablets, without requiring hardware reconfiguration between operations. The system runs on Device OS, Apkudo's foundational platform layer that enables an open ecosystem of robot manufacturers to build, deploy, and operate advanced device processing solutions.
According to Counterpoint Research data, foldable screen shipments grew 24% year-over-year, driven by anticipated product cycles, accelerating consumer adoption of flexible displays. These form factors have become the fastest-growing and most operationally challenging segment in mobile device refurbishment. Manual processing of foldable screens and tablets leads to significant subjective grading errors, reduces warehouse throughput, and limits the depth of verified status data available for downstream resale programs. Participants in the reverse logistics ecosystem lack standardized, high-capacity automation solutions designed for modern device form factors.
The RSA device addresses these challenges by processing smartphones, tablets, and foldable devices on a single system, performing precise cosmetic and functional testing without any hardware or software reconfiguration between runs. The system completely eliminates manual handling and operator subjectivity in device testing and analysis. It utilizes advanced robotics, integrated torque sensors, and acoustic capture technology to provide precise foldable screen diagnostics. For larger display surfaces such as tablets, the system uses stitched high-resolution imaging to preserve every pixel detail. Apkudo's cosmetic Device AI model supports defect detection and complies with CTIA 5.1 grading standards. All generated data automatically flows to the Apkudo platform to generate a unique Device Passport.
Charles Xie, CEO of Alpha Automatics, stated that the RSA device provides the structural precision required to safely and efficiently handle modern flexible form factors, creating a zero-touch compact system integrated into existing physical workflows. Josh Matthews, CEO and co-founder of Apkudo, said that RSA brings the physical AI precision that the Apkudo platform provides for standard devices to form factors that have historically challenged the reverse logistics industry. By using Device OS as the platform software layer, it empowers hardware innovators to help the industry address the foldable screen and tablet market segments at scale.
The system is designed for direct deployment, fits through standard industrial doors, and processes up to 30 devices per hour. Its flexible footprint makes it suitable for small regional resellers handling as few as 5,000 devices per month, who can introduce automation without major warehouse layout modifications. Medium to large refurbishment centers can connect multiple units belt-to-belt, gradually scaling capacity as volume grows. High-capacity centers can deploy the system as a dedicated standalone work cell, extending automated diagnostics to complex device types that traditional point solutions cannot handle. OEM-specific RSA work cells have been operational for over a year, with initial commercial deployments underway with ecosystem leaders including Likewize, MTR, and TMT First.
