Amazon introduces 'Sparrow' robotic arm that can do repetitive warehouse tasks

Amazon connected Thursday showed disconnected a caller robot that could 1 time assistance warehouse workers with immoderate of the much tedious aspects of the job.

The institution unveiled "Sparrow," a robotic limb that tin pluck millions of items of varying shapes and sizes, connected signifier astatine the Delivering the Future league adjacent Boston, wherever it showcased caller robotics, proscription and last-mile transportation technologies.

Amazon says Sparrow uses machine imaginativeness and artificial quality to determination products earlier they're packaged. A video of Sparrow shows the robotic limb picking up a committee game, a vessel of vitamins and a acceptable of sheets — each the kinds of items that mightiness travel done 1 of the company's warehouses — and deftly placing them successful crates.

While the instauration of robots to the warehouse often raises questions astir whether quality jobs volition beryllium replaced, Amazon says Sparrow volition "take connected repetitive tasks," freeing employees up to absorption connected different things.

The institution besides said the exertion tin amended information successful the workplace, though that imaginable has been debated. An probe by Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting found the company's warehouses with robots person higher wounded rates than facilities without automation.

Amazon has steadily added to its fleet of warehouse robots since it acquired Kiva Systems for $775 cardinal a decennary ago. Kiva evolved into Amazon Robotics, the company's in-house incubator of robotic fulfillment systems.

About 75% of the 5 cardinal packages processed by Amazon annually are handled by robots successful astatine slightest 1 portion of the transportation process, the institution said Thursday.

Amazon successful June unveiled its archetypal afloat autonomous robot that tin run alongside warehouse workers, successful summation to different systems that tin benignant and determination packages. It also acquired Cloostermans, which develops warehouse machinery and robotics.

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