Amazon has just unveiled a major breakthrough in robotics: Vulcan, the first robot with a sense of touch. This extraordinary innovation, which was presented at the “Delivering the Future” event in Dortmund, promises to radically change warehouse management and improve the e-commerce giant’s operational efficiency. Using artificial intelligence and force sensors, Vulcan is able to gently handle a wide range of products, revolutionizing the way distribution centers work.
A technological innovation that gives robots the sense of touch
Have you ever thought about how you pick up a coin that has fallen on the floor? In this action, which we all perform naturally, we have to locate the object visually and use our sense of touch to know exactly when to close our fingers and with what force. Until now, robots have been rather “numb and dumb”, as Aaron Parness, Chief Scientist at Amazon, says.
Vulcan changes all that. This robot represents a “fundamental leap in robotics” because it “doesn’t just see the world, it feels it”. This ability to understand when and how it comes into contact with an object opens up new perspectives for the automation of complex tasks.
The robot uses a terminal device that looks suspiciously like a “ruler on a hair straightener” and force sensors that tell it how much pressure it is exerting on the objects it is manipulating. This allows it to stay below the threshold that could damage delicate products.
How this innovative technology works
In Amazon’s distribution centers, products are stored in mobile shelving units known as “pods”. These structures are covered with fabric and divided into compartments of around 30 square centimetres, each of which can hold up to 10 items on average.
Inserting or removing an item from this crowded space was previously complicated for robots, as they lack the natural dexterity of humans. Vulcan can now :
* Easily move items in these compartments to free up space
* Adapt its gripping force to the size and shape of the objects.
* Use the integrated conveyor belts to push objects into the compartments.
* Determine the best support point for gripping an object.
This technology was not developed by chance. It is the result of three years of hard work by a team that now comprises 250 people. Physical artificial intelligence was used in its development, including algorithms that recognize which objects Vulcan can and cannot handle.
A partner for employees and not a competitor
Contrary to the fears that automation sometimes arouses, Amazon claims that Vulcan is not intended to replace human employees, but to improve their working conditions. “Working with Vulcan makes picking and stocking easier for us and is better for ergonomic safety,” explains Kari Freitas Hardy, logistics manager at the distribution center in Spokane, Washington state.
The robot is designed to handle items at the top and bottom of the shelves, leaving the middle area, which is more ergonomic, to humans. This means that employees do not have to :
* climb ladders to reach high shelves
* constantly bending down to reach low areas
Vulcan can handle about 75 percent of the items in Amazon’s warehouses. For the remaining 25%, which are too complex for the robot, it can alert human employees.
Creating new jobs instead of cutting jobs
According to Amazon, advances in robotics are not eliminating jobs, but creating new job categories. Over the past twelve years, the deployment of more than 750,000 robots in the company’s distribution centers has created hundreds of new jobs, such as robotic floor inspectors or on-site reliability officers.
The company also offers training programs such as “Career Choice” that make it easier to get into robotics and other high-tech fields. Tye Brady, Amazon’s chief technology officer for robotics, says robots are designed to “augment human potential” and improve safety, not to completely replace human workers.
“Humans will always be part of the equation,” he assures.
The future of Vulcan and the impact on e-commerce
Vulcan is currently only fully operational in the Spokane warehouse. Another version, which allows certain items to be removed from stock, is being tested in Hamburg, Germany. Amazon plans to roll out Vulcan to other warehouses in the US and Germany in 2026.
Vulcan is part of Amazon’s strategy to maximize efficiency and improve working conditions. Robots already play a role in processing 75 percent of Amazon orders.
A revolution that goes beyond warehouses
Vulcan’s advances could have an impact far beyond Amazon’s warehouses. The robots’ tactile capabilities pave the way for new applications in various sectors:
* Advanced logistics and supply chain management
* Manufacturing industry for handling fragile objects
* Healthcare services for patient care
Have you ever wondered how the logistics of an Amazon delivery work? Next time you receive a package, remember that Vulcan may have played a role in the fulfillment process.
As artificial intelligence and robotics continue to evolve, innovations like Vulcan remind us that technological advancement is not necessarily about replacing humans, but creating tools that allow us to work more efficiently and in better conditions.
After all, even the most advanced robots still have a lot to learn from the natural dexterity of humans, and perhaps human-machine collaboration will remain the optimal solution for a long time to come.