Amazon has just lifted the curtain on something straight out of a sci-fi film. The company unveiled Vulcan, its first-ever warehouse robot that can actually feel what it touches. Powered by sensors and physical AI, this machine is not like other industrial robots, it can perform with a level of precision and care that’s never been seen in Amazon’s fulfilment centres.

It handles 75% of stored items:

Amazon says Vulcan can pick and place about 75% of the kinds of items stored in its fulfilment centres. That’s a big jump in robot capability. The system even knows when not to act, if it’s unsure or if something looks tricky, it alerts a human to step in.

What’s next?

Amazon plans to roll out Vulcan systems across its US and European fulfilment network in the coming years. It says the robot will reduce physical strain on workers, especially by avoiding the need to stretch or climb for items stored too high or too low.

And for employees, there might be more opportunities to take on technical roles, as Vulcan systems will require monitoring and maintenance.

Amazon’s earlier bots:

Amazon already uses robots like Sparrow, Cardinal, and Robin for picking, and others like Proteus and Hercules to move goods. But those systems rely heavily on vision and suction. Vulcan adds the missing piece: touch.

Vulcan is expected to change how items are handled at Amazon scale. With over 750,000 robots already in use, this new generation could play a key role in improving workplace safety and speed of operations.

How Vulcan’s “touch” works:

The magic lies in something called force feedback sensors. These sensors are mounted on Vulcan’s grabbing arm and let it feel how much pressure it’s applying. It also has a kind of end-of-arm tool that looks a bit like a hair straightener attached to a ruler. This setup lets it push, adjust, and insert items in tight bins without damaging them.

When Vulcan picks something, it uses a suction cup and camera to find the best spot to grab. The camera double-checks to make sure the right item is taken. This helps avoid accidentally pulling out more than one product, a common problem in automated systems.

This makes it a solid assistant, not a replacement. Plus, it learns. Vulcan is trained not just on computer simulations but real-world physical data. So every time it makes a mistake or encounters a new item, it gets better.

Will this robot be replacing workers? Amazon says Vulcan is designed to help human employees by handling the tough, less ergonomic tasks, especially the ones that require reaching into tight spaces or climbing ladders to access high shelves. The company has already started testing it at centres in Washington, US and Hamburg, Germany.

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