The next time you drop a coin on the ground, consider how you go about picking it up again. Your senses of hearing, vision, and touch collaborate seamlessly to accomplish this simple task. However, for robots, this seemingly easy task remains a significant challenge. For years, robots have excelled in various fields, such as defeating chess masters and navigating city streets, yet they often fall short in tasks requiring a sense of touch.
Today, at Amazon’s Delivering the Future event in Dortmund, Germany, a new chapter in robotics unfolds with the introduction of Vulcan—a robot equipped with a sense of touch. Amazon’s Director of Applied Science, Aaron Parness, describes Vulcan as a “fundamental leap forward,” highlighting its ability to feel and interact with the world in ways previously impossible for Amazon robots.
“Vulcan represents a fundamental leap forward in robotics,” Parness says. “It’s not just seeing the world, it’s feeling it, enabling capabilities that were impossible for Amazon robots until now.”
Advancements in Fulfillment Centers
Vulcan is already transforming operations within Amazon’s fulfillment centers, enhancing employee safety and efficiency. Kari Freitas Hardy, a front-line employee at a fulfillment center in Spokane, Washington, shares that working alongside Vulcan has allowed employees to acquire new skills and transition into more technical roles.
The Power of Touch
Vulcan’s introduction isn’t Amazon’s first foray into robotics. Previous systems like Sparrow, Cardinal, and Robin utilized computer vision and suction technology to move products. However, Vulcan’s sense of touch opens up new possibilities. In Amazon’s fulfillment centers, inventory is stored in fabric-covered pods, making it challenging for robots lacking human-like dexterity to handle items.
Vulcan’s advanced “end of arm tooling” allows it to manipulate objects deftly. It uses force feedback sensors to gauge contact and adjust grip strength, ensuring it doesn’t damage items. This capability enables Vulcan to handle approximately 75% of all item types stored in Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Human-Robot Collaboration
Vulcan’s development aimed not only at improving efficiency but also at enhancing worker safety. In Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany, Vulcan focuses on items stored in the top rows of inventory pods, reducing the need for employees to use step ladders. This ergonomic improvement allows employees to work comfortably at midriff level.
“Vulcan works alongside our employees, and the combination is better than either on their own,” Parness adds.
Over the past decade, Amazon has deployed over 750,000 robots in its fulfillment centers, creating hundreds of new job categories and contributing to safer and more efficient operations. Vulcan’s introduction continues this trend, with plans to scale its deployment across Europe and the United States.
A New Era of Automation
Vulcan’s technology is not a result of happenstance. It stems from Amazon’s problem-solving approach, identifying challenges and developing solutions. The robot’s development involved years of work on technologies like force feedback sensors and physical AI algorithms, allowing it to handle diverse items and navigate complex environments.
Vulcan learns from its experiences, building an understanding of the physical world, much like a child. This ongoing learning process ensures that Vulcan will become even more capable in the future.
Amazon’s vision for Vulcan extends beyond its current capabilities. By deploying the robot at scale, Amazon aims to enhance operational efficiency, improve workplace safety, and support employees by reducing physically demanding tasks.
“Our vision is to scale this technology across our network, enhancing operational efficiency, improving workplace safety, and supporting our employees by reducing physically demanding tasks,” Parness says.
In conclusion, Vulcan represents a transformative step in Amazon’s ongoing pursuit of innovation, combining the best of robotics and human collaboration.
Note: This article is inspired by content from https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/amazon-vulcan-robot-pick-stow-touch. It has been rephrased for originality. Images are credited to the original source.