Amazon unveils new robots, AI to improve warehouse operations, speed up delivery times, and reduce worker injuries

Amazon announced Wednesday that it has incorporated new robotic and artificial intelligence technology to improve its warehouse operations, reduce delivery times, and reduce worker injuries.

An article from Amazon revealed that the e-commerce company now has over 750,000 robots that are "working collaboratively with our employees" to speed up repetitive tasks.

Amazon most recently unveiled Sequoia, a robotic system that identifies and stores inventory at its fulfillment centers up to 75% faster. The new technology also reduces the take it takes to process an order by up to 25%. Sequoia also brings together mobile robots, gantry systems, and robotic arms to safely deliver warehouse inventory to employees at an ergonomic workstation designed to reduce the risk of injury.

"The system works by having mobile robots transport containerized inventory directly to a gantry, a tall frame with a platform supporting equipment that can either restock totes or send them to an employee to pick out inventory that customers have ordered," the company stated.

The technology will enable Amazon to list items online faster and more accurately predict shipping times. The company's new robotic arm, Sparrow, will help to consolidate inventory into totes to be returned to storage.

Amazon's director of robotic storage technology said, "The faster we can process inventory, the greater the probability that we're going to be able to deliver when we said we could."

The company reported that in 2022, incident rates dropped 15%, and lost-time incidents decreased 18%. Amazon believes the integration of the new robotics and AI will continue to improve efficiency.

The company's robotics research and development site is testing a bipedal robot, Digit, that can move, grab, and handle inventory. Digit will assist employees by completing repetitive tasks, such as recycling totes, Amazon stated.

The company told the Wall Street Journal that "it doesn't see automation and robotics as vehicles for eliminating jobs," the outlet stated. Amazon did not reveal how the AI and robotic systems will impact jobs.

"Ensuring robotics are collaborative and support employees is central to how we design or deploy systems like Sequoia and Digit," the company stated. "From the hardware to the artificial intelligence embedded in our robotics, we are passionate about technology that makes the work experience of our employees safer, easier, and less repetitive. Doing so gives our employees the time and opportunity to take a step back, look at how orders are moving though [sic] our sites, and find new ways to delight and serve our customers."

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