Aethon TUG — Specs & Review
Specifications
| Brand | Aethon |
|---|---|
| Model | TUG |
| Year | 2005 |
| Category | Hospitality, Logistics |
| Autonomy | fully-autonomous |
| Environment | indoor |
| Dimensions | 76cm L × 60cm W × 122cm H |
| Connectivity | WiFi, Ethernet |
| Country of origin | US |
Key features
- Laser guidance map navigation
- Autonomous elevator integration
- Fire door and facility integration
- 24/7 auto charging operation
- 150+ hospital deployments
- Custom cart and cassette payloads
- 20+ year commercial track record
What is it?
The Aethon TUG is a pioneer autonomous mobile robot for hospital and facility internal logistics, transporting medications, meals, linen, and supplies through corridors and elevator systems.
Who is it for?
- Hospitals automating pharmaceutical, meal, and linen transport between departments
- Large hotel and resort properties automating internal supply logistics
- Healthcare facilities seeking to reduce non-clinical staff transport time
- Facilities with complex multi-floor logistics requiring elevator integration
Key specs
- Navigation: laser guidance + map-based
- Payload: custom carts and cassettes
- Elevator: full autonomous integration
- Operation: 24/7 with auto charging
- Deployment: 150+ hospitals globally
- Owner: Swisslog Healthcare (since 2014)
How it compares
Vs MiR AMRs: TUG is purpose-built for hospital and hospitality internal logistics with deep facility system integration (elevators, fire doors, nurse call). MiR is a more general-purpose industrial AMR. TUG has a far longer hospital deployment track record.
Limitations
- Older platform with longer integration timelines than newer AMRs
- Requires facility infrastructure mapping and elevator integration
- Custom cart system means switching costs if changing platforms
- Now part of Swisslog — less independent roadmap visibility
FAQ
How much does the Aethon TUG cost?
Aethon TUG pricing is available through Swisslog Healthcare, which acquired Aethon in 2014. Contact Swisslog for pricing based on facility size and deployment scope.
What does the Aethon TUG do?
The Aethon TUG is an autonomous mobile robot for transporting medications, meals, linen, lab specimens, and supplies through hospital and hotel corridors, reducing staff transport time.
What are the key specs of the Aethon TUG?
TUG navigates autonomously using laser guidance and map-based localisation, integrates with facility elevators and fire doors, carries custom carts and cassettes, and operates 24/7 with automatic charging.
Where is the Aethon TUG deployed?
TUG is deployed in over 150 hospitals across North America and internationally, as well as select hotel and commercial facility deployments for internal logistics.
What is the Aethon TUG's history?
TUG was one of the first autonomous mobile robots commercially deployed in hospitals, with deployments beginning in the early 2000s — making it one of the longest track records of any commercial AMR.