Amazon has taken a new step in the evolution of automation by introducing Vulcan, its first warehouse robot capable of sensing the objects it handles. This technological advancement signifies a shift in how the company approaches the most complex and delicate logistics tasks within its distribution centers.
Unlike traditional robots, Vulcan is able to perceive and adjust its force when handling products, which allows it to manage approximately 75% of the inventory products. This capability positions it as an essential tool to reduce the physical burden on employees and expedite processing times. Vulcan is already operational in distribution centers in Spokane (United States) and Hamburg (Germany), and its expansion to other facilities is expected in the near future.
As Aaron Parness explains, Amazon’s director of robotic AI, it is “a technology that seemed impossible three years ago but now is ready to help transform our operations.”
Vulcan is a robotic handling system designed to pick up and store products with unprecedented sensitivity. Its technology incorporates haptic sensors, which detect information such as pressure, force, texture, vibration, or temperature and convert it into data that the system can interpret to adjust its behavior in real-time. For robots like Vulcan, these types of sensors are used to:
Vulcan features a combined system of suction and artificial vision, where a suction cup assisted by cameras analyzes each product before moving it. This method allows it to calculate the best way to lift an item, even when objects are packed tightly in compartments or located at difficult angles. Additionally, it integrates a device similar to a spatula to separate objects in tight spaces, emulating human manual dexterity.
Vulcan uses an arm equipped with a camera and a suction cup to pick items from compartments.
One of Vulcan’s most important innovations is its capacity to learn from experience. As it performs tasks, it adjusts its parameters and adapts its movements to new situations, making it an intelligent and versatile robot, ready to interact in highly dynamic logistical environments.
Unlike previous systems, this robot interacts actively with its environment in a more sensitive and precise manner, allowing it to perform tasks that previously required direct human intervention, such as the handling of fragile, soft, or irregularly shaped items.
Amazon has come a long way since acquiring Kiva Systems in 2012, marking the beginning of its internal automation strategy. Since then, it has deployed a diverse fleet of robots, each specialized in specific logistics tasks:
What distinguishes Vulcan from the rest is its sensory and adaptive capabilities. While robots like Proteus or Sparrow are designed for specific tasks and require controlled environments, Vulcan can operate in more unstructured scenarios and handle items that other systems cannot recognize or manipulate effectively.
From the technology company, they explain that the implementation of Vulcan will not replace human employees. On the contrary, Amazon asserts that this new system is designed to complement the human team, relieving repetitive or physically demanding tasks. For instance, retrieving items from lower or upper shelves can create muscle strain, a load Vulcan can now take on.
Additionally, the incorporation of this type of technology has created new job opportunities, especially in technical areas. Positions are being created to operate, maintain, and program these robotic systems. There are also emerging roles related to operational data management, quality supervision, and logistics planning adapted to human and robot interaction.
“Vulcan works alongside our employees, and the combination is better than either of them alone,” assures Parness.
Photo: Amazon
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