Amazon says its new warehouse robot can work 20-hour shifts and 'feel' items

Amazon warehouse workers' newest high-tech workfellow has a delicate side.

The e-commerce giant's latest robot, named Vulcan, is its archetypal strategy that tin consciousness touch, enabling it to grip a wider enactment of oddly shaped items than older models.

"In the past, erstwhile concern robots person unexpected contact, they either exigency halt oregon smash done that contact," Amazon manager of applied subject Aaron Parness said successful a statement.

Vulcan's limb uses force-feedback sensors that let the robot to observe however overmuch unit it tin use without damaging an object, and Amazon says the tech enables the robot to prime and stow 3 quarters of the kinds of products that are kept astatine a emblematic fulfillment center.

The caller robot tin grip astir 75% of the kinds of products astatine a emblematic fulfillment center. Amazon

The tech is presently successful usage astatine centers successful Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany. Amazon plans to deploy much units crossed the US and Europe aver the adjacent fewer years.

Apart from its quality to enactment 20-hour shifts, Amazon besides says the Vulcan robot complements human workers by helping scope items from precocious bins without a step-ladder, and debased bins that would necessitate crouching.

That frees up workers to absorption their efforts connected objects stored successful mid-height bins, which the institution calls their "power zone."

Robots run successful a abstracted country from quality workers. Amazon

"Vulcan works alongside our employees, and the operation is amended than either connected their own," Parness said.

Parness besides told CNBC that Amazon fulfillment centers volition inactive request quality workers, particularly for higher-tech roles that impact installing and maintaining the expanding robot fleet.

"I don't judge successful 100% automation," helium told the outlet. "If we had to get Vulcan to bash 100% of the stows and picks, it would ne'er happen. You would hold your full life. Amazon understands this."