Amazon has officially unveiled Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch, a breakthrough that is marking a profound change in the operation of its distribution centers. Equipped with force sensors and a trained artificial intelligence trained with physical Vulcan can manipulate objects with a dexterity never before seen in its facilities.
An intelligence that feels and acts
While its predecessors such as Sparrow or Proteus relied on the visiartificial vision and suction cups, Vulcan combines these tools with physical feedback. and suction cups, Vulcan combines these tools with physical feedback. This allows you to push, grip and store products without causing damage, even in crowded compartments as small as 30 cm.
Thanks to an adaptive gripping tool and a stereo vision camera, you can decide precisely how much force to use and how to place each object.
Collaboration in the warehouse without substitution
One of the highlights of Vulcan is its integration with human workers. Rather than replacing them, it is designed to eliminate repetitive and physically demanding tasks. For example, it now takes care of stocking products in high or very low rows, reducing the need for ladders and unergonomic movements by staff.
Vulcan’s development involved training its AI with thousands of real physical interactions. From socks to fragile products, the robot has learned to interpret textures, resistances and shapes. This “tactile understanding” even allows it to know when it cannot manipulate an object and request human assistance, closing the loop on effective collaboration.
Operational impact and scalability of the robot with sense of touch.
Currently operating in logistics centers in Germany and the U.S., Vulcan can handle up to 75% of the types of items stocked at Amazon, at speeds comparable to those of a human employee. Mass deployment is planned over the next two years in Europe and North America, as part of the company’s strategy to raise its operational efficiency and maintain safe working conditions.
With more than 750,000 robots deployed over the past decade, Amazon reaffirms its commitment to applied innovation. Vulcan is not just a technical enhancement, but an extension of its philosophy focused on combining advanced technology with human well-being.
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Source and photo: Amazon
