Amazon Introduces Warehouse Robot Featuring Advanced ‘Touch’ Sensory Technology

Amazon has unveiled a new warehouse robot named Vulcan, which has the ability to “feel” certain objects it interacts with.

The dual-armed Vulcan is designed to navigate goods within Amazon’s warehouse storage areas, using force sensors to sense contact with different items. One arm is tasked with rearranging products in a bin, while the other arm, equipped with a camera and a suction cup, is responsible for picking up items.

According to Amazon, Vulcan has undergone training with physical data, including force and touch feedback, allowing it to manage approximately 75% of the company’s inventory. It is also programmed for continuous self-improvement. Currently, the robot is operational in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany, where it has successfully processed over half a million orders to date.

Vulcan is the latest addition to Amazon’s fleet of robots, which numbers in the hundreds of thousands and aids in fulfilling customer orders globally. Despite some critics suggesting that Amazon’s focus on robotics is aimed at replacing human workers, the company insists that robots like Vulcan improve safety in its warehouses.