Amazon just recently introduced its new warehouse robot, called Vulcan, to help supercharge the company’s order fulfillment juggernaut. This new robotic addition can “feel” the items it touches, allowing for a more efficient interaction with various products in Amazon’s expansive storage facilities. The rollout of Vulcan is a noteworthy leap forward as the retailer continues seeking to automate and digitize its operations.
Vulcan has already been put into action at two locations: Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany. Since launching, the robot has remarkably completed over 500,000 orders. This incredible capability is a testament to Amazon’s drive to operationalize its efficiency to innovate on behalf of its consumers through automation.
The unique two-armed design of Vulcan is a testament to its imaginative features. One arm is entirely dedicated to repacking things into storage compartments, based on how often they’re used and setting up the most efficient organization and accessibility. The second arm is fitted with both a camera and a suction cup, which allows it to pick up all sorts of things quickly and easily. This twin-arm layout will allow Vulcan to quickly and precisely move products to and from storage areas in Amazon’s shipping centers.
Vulcan has an astounding level of functionality, made possible by its sophisticated force sensors. These sensors allow Vulcan to figure out when it’s touching different kinds of objects. This new sensory ability improves the accuracy of pick up. It greatly reduces the chance of items getting damaged while being sorted and pulled. The robot’s ability to “feel” objects enhances its interaction with the environment, making it an integral part of Amazon’s logistics operations.
Vulcan joins a vast fleet of hundreds of thousands of robots that Amazon employs to fulfill customer orders across its global storage facilities. Their fast-moving, precision robotic units constitute their competitive advantage by delivering unprecedented productivity and on-time deliveries. The launch of Vulcan further highlights Amazon’s long-standing practice of using technology to streamline their supply chain.
The enterprise has released a striking new picture of Vulcan, which displays its sleek lines and layered operation. Second, Amazon is taking the lead on the robotics innovation frontier. If Vulcan gets its way, the launch—Amazon’s first—but likely not its last major leap in warehouse automation.
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