Amazon has unveiled Vulcan, a warehouse robot and the first in the world capable of “feeling” objects. Vulcan handles items carefully even in the most hard-to-reach and densely packed storage locations, tackling tasks that previously were available only to people.
A sensitive, finely controlled manipulator with force feedback allows the robot to sense touch and fine-tune the amount of force it applies, without damaging even fragile items. A second manipulator uses a vacuum suction cup and a “smart” camera to prevent accidentally picking up more than one item at a time. Vulcan can process around 75% of Amazon’s assortment and is especially effective when working with the upper and lower shelves of eight-meter racks—areas where the risk of injury for a human worker increases.
The robot is already operating on Amazon warehouses in the United States and Germany. Vulcan is a step not toward replacing people with automation, but toward partnership with a machine that helps and learns. This technology also points to possibilities beyond warehouses, in any setting where precision and delicate handling of objects matter.
