Amazon is deploying a new AI-powered robot named 'Vulcan' in its fulfillment centers in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany. Vulcan is Amazon's first robot equipped with a sense of touch, allowing it to handle items more carefully.
Vulcan uses force feedback sensors and a unique "end of arm tooling" to sense how hard it's pushing or holding items. This prevents damage and allows it to work with a wide variety of products. The robot can identify when it needs human assistance.
Vulcan can pick and stow approximately 75% of the various types of items Amazon stores. It uses physical AI algorithms to identify items, find space in bins, and learn from failures. Amazon plans to deploy Vulcan systems across Europe and the United States over the next few years.