Amazon Launches Vulcan, a Touch-Sensitive Warehouse Robot
Amazon Inc introduced Vulcan, its most advanced, first-of-its-kind warehouse robot, designed with a sense of touch to handle items with greater care and precision. Introduced at the ‘Delivering the Future’ event in Dortmund, Germany, the robot is capable of picking and storing around 75 percent of the typical inventory found in the company’s warehouses.
According to Amazon, the robot was developed using key innovations in robotics, engineering, and physical AI. Aaron Parness, Director, Applied Sciences, Amazon Inc, stated that Vulcan represents a significant leap in robotics. He also pointed out that the robot’s ability to sense touch allows it to perform functions that were previously not possible for the company’s robots.
Vulcan uses two specialized arms—one equipped with force sensors to detect an object and adjust its speed and grasping pressure, and another arm featuring a suction cup and AI-driven camera to extract products while ensuring it picks only one item at a time. The robot is deeply integrated with AI and is built to continually learn from real-world touch and force data, refining its handling skills over time.
Already in use at fulfillment centers in Spokane and Hamburg, the robot has processed over half a million orders. Amazon stated that the robot is used to access items in hard-to-reach areas, helping reduce physical strain for workers. Parness emphasized that Vulcan complements human efforts, improving worker safety, ergonomics, and efficiency.
Image Source: Amazon Inc