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Amazon’s newest warehouse robot is capable of sensing the objects it manipulates.
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Vulcan has already handled 500,000 orders in pilot programs.
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It will operate alongside employees to boost efficiency and safety.
Amazon has unveiled a brand-new warehouse robot that it’s calling Vulcan, and it’s a step closer to being human than many humans might feel comfortable with, but for good reason.
Vulcan has the ability to ‘feel’ the objects it interacts with using force sensors and tactile feedback, which means Amazon can improve precision and reduce errors in its warehouses.
The (fortunately non-humanoid) robot utilizes two distinct limbs; one is designed for organizing objects within sections, whereas the second limb features both a camera and a suction cup for fetching items.
The Amazon Vulcan robot has the ability to sense and interact with items.
The company
noted
Vulcan was trained utilizing physical data such as force and touch feedback, and it can currently grasp approximately three-quarters of the objects.
ecommerce
The company’s inventory has already handled more than 500,000 orders during trial implementations in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany.
Vulcan can also improve itself, gaining knowledge through experiences similar to how a human child learns.
Due to its learning capabilities along with touch sensors and tactile feedback, Amazon claims that Vulcan emulates human dexterity, enabling it to handle densely arranged sections without causing damage to objects.
It can also recognize when it’s unable to process something and will call upon a person for help.
Notably, in highly-stacked shelves and taller warehouses, Vulcan is able to access items more quickly than humans because it doesn’t need to use a ladder, improving safety and efficiency. It’s also said to work at speeds comparable to humans.
“Vulcan works alongside our employees, and the combination is better than either on their own,” Amazon Robotics Director of Applied Science Aaron Parness explained.
Currently, Amazon utilizes over 750,000 robots within its warehouse operations. The company emphasizes these machines assist and work alongside humans instead of replacing them. Additionally, they have various initiatives such as Sparrow, Robin, Cardinal, and Proteus—the firm’s initial self-guided robotic system.
“Scaling this technology throughout our network is our objective, which will boost operational efficiency, enhance workplace safety, and assist our staff by minimizing physically strenuous activities,” Parness stated at last.
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