Amazon debuts ‘Blue Jay’ robot that performs multiple tasks at once

Amazon On Wednesday, the company unveiled a new robotic system that can perform multiple tasks at the same time in its warehouses.

The system, called Blue Jay, consists of a series of robotic arms suspended from a conveyor belt-like rail. These arms have suction cup devices at the end that allow them to grip and separate items of various shapes and sizes.

Amazon says Blue Jay combines “three formerly separate robot stations into a modern workplace that can pick, sort and assemble in one location.” he said in a blog.

The goal of the robotic system is to assist workers with challenging tasks “while creating greater efficiency in less physical space,” the company said.

Amazon is testing Blue Jay at one of its warehouses in South Carolina. So far, the company has observed that the system can pick, pack, stack and consolidate “approximately 75% of the items we store in our facilities.”

Blue Jay joins a growing fleet of robotic machines deployed across Amazon’s legions of warehouses. Over the past few years, Amazon has introduced robots that can perform tasks ranging from lifting items off shelves to sorting boxes. In May, it launched “Vulcan,” a robotic system with a sense of touch.

Amazon’s warehouse automation efforts were largely jump-started in 2012 with the $775 million acquisition of Kiva Systems.

The announcement comes as Amazon’s warehouse automation comes under increasing scrutiny, particularly over how the technology impacts its front-line workforce.

New York Times On Tuesday, research was released showing that Amazon’s automation team expects to avoid hiring more than 160,000 people in the US by 2027; That works out to a savings of about 30 cents on every item Amazon packages and delivers. The Times said the report was based on interviews and internal strategy documents.

In response to the report, an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC that the documents present “an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans.”

“In this example, the materials appear to reflect only one team’s perspective and are not representative of our overall recruiting strategy across our various operating lines of business – now or in the future,” the spokesperson said in an email.

Amazon has said it could improve worker safety and reduce injuries by automating more of its warehouses, but that possibility is disputed. A report prepared by Statement from the Center for Investigative Reporting In 2020, the company’s robotized warehouses were found to have higher injury rates than non-automated facilities.

Amazon he said last week It said it plans to hire 250,000 workers for full-time and part-time roles this holiday shopping season, the same number as the previous two years.

As the nation’s second-largest private employer, Amazon’s automation playbook could be a bellwether for the broader job market and other companies. The company had more than 1.54 million employees worldwide. end of second quarter. This figure does not include delivery drivers contracted through third-party companies.

Morgan Stanley analysts estimated in a note Wednesday that Amazon’s rollout of automated warehouses could save up to $4 billion by 2027, along with lower labor and order fulfillment costs.

Workers remain “at the center” of its robotics development, the company said Wednesday. Amazon said its goal is to “reduce physically demanding tasks, simplify decisions, and open new career opportunities” for workers.

Amazon has sought to highlight how increased automation in its facilities will lead to workers adopting “more rewarding” roles within the company. offers an offer apprenticeship program In the field of mechatronics and robotics, it involves developing skills related to the maintenance and monitoring of robotic machines.

Amazon also announced on Wednesday a pair of augmented reality glasses For delivery drivers, he says they can help with their daily duties.

The glasses are equipped with artificial intelligence, sensors and cameras that can scan packages. The glasses can also show drivers step-by-step directions, dangers and reminders through the screen containing information in their field of vision. The device can also generate audio alerts to alert drivers if a dog is on the customer’s property.

The system comes with a small controller attached to the delivery driver’s vest, with a “dedicated emergency button” they can use to reach emergency services while on the road.

Amazon said it tested versions of the glasses with hundreds of drivers to help design the device.

The company relies on thousands of contracted delivery companies to drop packages off at shoppers’ doorsteps. Over the past few years, more and more technology has been injected into workflows, including video cameras and smartphone apps that track and score driving behavior. AI tools This can help drivers determine the right package to deliver at each stop.

WRISTWATCH: Meet Vulcan, Amazon’s new stacking robot that can sense touch