Amazon has begun testing two robots in order to automate its warehouses. The e-commerce giant announced its new robotic solutions, which will help to make faster deliveries during the holiday season. Amazon revealed that these robots will be focused on performing repetitive tasks, so employees will be able to focus on other activities.
Although Amazon has more than 750,000 robots, the arrival of Digit and Sequoia represents an important step in its strategy. The former has a humanoid design and is capable of moving, gripping and manipulating objects in the warehouse spaces defined for employees. Its initial task will be to help workers pick up and move empty containers once they are removed from inventory.
Digit was developed by Agility Robotics, a U.S. company dedicated to building robots with a human-centric approach. In terms of specifications, Digit is 175 cm tall and weighs about 65 kg. It has two feet that allow it to move in multiple directions, as well as two hands to grasp objects or maintain balance when struck.
“Our robots move more like a person than the stereotypical rigid robot. That makes it a more effective robot in a world built for people,” mentioned Jonathan Hurst, Agility’s chief technology officer.
According to its creators, Digit can crouch, squat and turn its upper body to look in all directions. Among its functions is the ability to pick up and put down objects of different sizes and weights. It is able to walk crouching, climb a sidewalk or move on sloping terrain and stops when it detects a person or object in its path.
Amazon robots could replace humans in the future
One of the most important features of Amazon’s humanoid robot is that it can work two full-time days. Digit runs from 16 to 24 hours on a single charge and connects autonomously to a docking station when the battery is low. It does not require going to the bathroom, so it will not suffer like current warehouse or delivery employees, who are forced to urinate into plastic bottles to perform their jobs.
While Amazon’s goal is to automate operations with the deployment of more robots, Agility doesn’t see Digit as a replacement for humans. “Our robots are not designed with the goal of mimicking people,” the company mentions. “We set out to create machines that can work in our spaces alongside us. Doing the job well requires many of the same physical characteristics.”
Alongside Digit, a second robot will assist in tasks to optimize customer orders. Sequoia can identify and store incoming inventory in the distribution center up to 75% faster than the current operation. According to Amazon, this solution also reduces processing time by 25%, which translates into more orders and more accurate delivery time estimates.
Unlike Digit, Sequoia integrates multiple systems to store inventory in containers. The system can command mobile robots to transport containerized items directly to a gantry. From here they can be replenished or sent to an ergonomic workstation where employees will dispense them without having to leave their place.
“Sequoia will dramatically simplify and optimize the way we store products and help employees pick them safely,” Amazon mentions. The system is already operating in one of the logistics centers in Texas, USA.