Don’t touch it
Amazon announced Vulcan, the first robot of its kind with a sense of touch, at its Delivering the Future event. The company says Vulcan is already operating in fulfillment centers in Spokane, US, and Hamburg, Germany, and will be rolling out to Europe and the UK in the coming years.
Vulcan is equipped with pressure sensors and cameras that allow it to “feel” objects by detecting pressure and shape. This is different from previous Amazon robots, such as Sparrow, which relied on cameras and suction cups. Vulcan’s unique “arm” design resembles a hair straightener and allows it to gently move items in tight spaces, handling up to 75% of inventory, from socks to electronics. Physical AI — a technology that combines machine learning with sensory data — helps the robot learn by doing and avoid damaging products.
Amazon emphasizes that the robot complements, not replaces, humans.
Source: Amazon
