Corvus Robotics Launches Freezer-Ready Drones for Autonomous Inventory in Cold Storage

Corvus Robotics Launches Freezer-Ready Drones for Autonomous Inventory in Cold Storage

Cold storage has always been one of the hardest places in the warehouse to modernize. Extreme temperatures. Ice buildup. Condensation. Heavy airflow. Short shelf lives. Tight FIFO rules. And on top of that, routine inventory checks still require people to suit up and step into -20°F environments.

At Manifest 2026, Corvus Robotics introduced a system built specifically for that challenge: Corvus One™ for Cold Chain, an autonomous drone platform designed to operate continuously inside freezer warehouses.

You can watch the drones flying and scanning inside live freezer facilities here:

Built for the Conditions Most Automation Avoids

Many warehouse robotics platforms perform well in ambient environments but struggle once frost, glare, airflow, and temperature swings enter the equation. Freezer warehouses are not forgiving environments for sensitive hardware.

Corvus didn’t simply adapt an existing system for colder temperatures. The company redesigned thermal management, flight stability, and sensing so the drones can maintain performance in sub-zero conditions. The drones are equipped with industrial-grade barcode scanners that adjust focus and exposure to read labels even when frost or glare would normally cause issues.

They also compensate for airflow from freezer blowers and door movement, allowing normal operations to continue while inventory counts are happening.

Inventory Visibility Without Sending People Into the Freezer

Frozen inventory moves quickly and carries higher risk. With short shelf lives and growing SKU counts, small inaccuracies can turn into write-offs fast.

Corvus One performs frequent, fully autonomous cycle counts, giving operators updated visibility into pallet positions and dwell time without sending workers into freezer aisles for routine checks.

That matters for both accuracy and safety. Freezer shifts are shorter. Labor is more expensive. Exposure risk is higher. Removing routine counting from those conditions can reduce both labor pressure and operational strain.

Already Running in Live Grocery Operations

National grocer Kroger is already using the system in active freezer facilities. According to Corvus, the drones are delivering consistent inventory visibility while reducing reliance on manual cycle counts.

For cold chain operators, that’s meaningful. Freezer automation has lagged behind the rest of the warehouse for years, largely because the environment itself makes reliability difficult. Systems that are purpose-built for those conditions may finally start closing that gap.

A Sign of Where Cold Chain Is Heading

Cold storage is expanding. Grocery e-commerce, frozen meal distribution, pharmaceuticals, and specialty food supply chains are all pushing freezer networks to handle more volume and more complexity.

As pressure increases, real-time inventory visibility becomes less of a luxury and more of a requirement.

Corvus Robotics is positioning its freezer-ready drones as part of that next phase, helping operators maintain accuracy in one of the most physically demanding parts of the warehouse.

Corvus is demonstrating the system at Manifest 2026 in the Cold Chain Pavilion.