Amazon is deploying a new generation of artificially intelligent robots in its warehouses, a move the company says will increase efficiency and improve worker safety. The two main systems, a robotic storage system called Sequoia and a bipedal robot named Digit, represent a significant step forward in the company’s automation efforts. While the e-commerce giant touts the benefits of these technologies for both customers and employees, the increasing integration of robotics into its fulfillment centers raises questions about the future of human labor in the logistics industry.
The new systems are designed to work alongside Amazon’s human workforce, which now numbers over 1.5 million people globally. The company states that the robots will take over highly repetitive tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more complex problem-solving. However, some external reports suggest that the push for greater automation could lead to job displacement and increased pressure on workers to keep up with the pace of the machines. The deployment of Sequoia and Digit is the latest development in Amazon’s long-standing pursuit of a more automated supply chain, a journey that began in earnest with its acquisition of robotics company Kiva Systems in 2012.
The Sequoia System: A New Approach to Storage and Retrieval
The Sequoia system is a comprehensive rethinking of how inventory is managed in Amazon’s fulfillment centers. It combines several different robotic technologies to create a more efficient and ergonomic workflow. The system is currently in operation at one of Amazon’s Houston, Texas, fulfillment centers.
Integrated Robotic Components
Sequoia is not a single robot but a collection of integrated systems. It includes mobile robots that transport totes, large gantry systems that can restock the totes or send them to workstations, and robotic arms that manipulate items. This integration allows for a seamless flow of inventory from receiving to order fulfillment. The system is designed to identify and store inventory up to 75% faster than previous methods and can reduce the time it takes to process an order by up to 25%.
Ergonomic Benefits for Employees
A key feature of the Sequoia system is its focus on improving the work experience for human employees. The system delivers totes to workstations at a height that is within the worker’s “power zone,” between mid-thigh and mid-chest. This eliminates the need for employees to reach up high or bend down low to retrieve items, reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The company has reported that in 2022, its robotics sites had 15% lower recordable incident rates and 18% lower lost-time incident rates compared to its non-robotics sites.
Digit: A Humanoid Robot for Repetitive Tasks
In addition to the comprehensive Sequoia system, Amazon is also testing a bipedal robot called Digit, developed by Agility Robotics. Amazon is an investor in the company. Digit is designed to work in spaces built for humans, and its initial application at Amazon will be to assist with tote recycling.
Technical Specifications and Capabilities
Digit stands approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds. It is capable of lifting and carrying items up to 35 pounds. The robot can walk forwards, backward, and side-to-side, and it can navigate uneven terrain and stairs. Its human-like form allows it to work in the same spaces as people, without the need for major infrastructure changes. The robot’s head contains LED lights that indicate its direction of movement, and it is equipped with a suite of sensors, including cameras and lidar, to perceive its environment.
The Role of Humanoid Robots in the Warehouse
The introduction of a humanoid robot like Digit into the warehouse environment is a significant development. While wheeled robots are common in logistics, bipedal robots that can mimic human movement are a relatively new addition. The ability of Digit to perform tasks that require mobility and dexterity, such as picking up and moving empty totes, could lead to further automation of manual tasks in the future. Agility Robotics is building a factory in Oregon with the capacity to produce up to 10,000 Digit robots per year.
The Artificial Intelligence Behind the Robots
The new generation of robots at Amazon is powered by advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning models. These systems are not just performing pre-programmed tasks; they are capable of learning and adapting to their environment.
DeepFleet and Project Eluna
Two of the key AI systems that Amazon is deploying are DeepFleet and Project Eluna. DeepFleet is a generative AI model that is used to coordinate the movement of large fleets of robots within the warehouse. It optimizes routes and traffic flow to ensure that the robots can operate efficiently and without collisions. Project Eluna is an “agentic AI” system that is designed to assist human operations managers. It analyzes data from across the fulfillment center to anticipate bottlenecks and recommend solutions, reducing the cognitive load on managers and allowing them to make more informed decisions.
A History of Automation at Amazon
Amazon’s journey into robotics and automation began in a significant way with its acquisition of Kiva Systems in 2012 for $775 million. Kiva’s mobile robots, which could carry shelves of goods to human pickers, were a game-changer for the e-commerce industry. After the acquisition, Amazon rebranded Kiva as Amazon Robotics and began to exclusively use the technology in its own fulfillment centers.
The Kiva Transformation
The Kiva acquisition fundamentally changed the way Amazon processed orders. The “goods-to-person” model, where robots bring items to stationary workers, dramatically reduced the amount of time that employees spent walking through the warehouse. This resulted in a significant increase in efficiency, with the “click to ship” time being reduced from over an hour to as little as 15 minutes. Since the Kiva acquisition, Amazon has deployed over 750,000 robots in its facilities worldwide.
The Impact on the Workforce
The increasing use of automation in Amazon’s warehouses has led to a debate about the impact on its human workforce. While Amazon maintains that robots are designed to augment human capabilities and improve safety, some external reports raise concerns about job security and working conditions.
Concerns About Job Displacement and Work Intensification
A report from the University of Oxford, based on interviews with Amazon workers in the UK, found that the introduction of automation has led to feelings of work intensification and a loss of control over the work process. The report also found that the productivity gains from automation were not being shared with workers in the form of higher pay. Other reports, citing leaked internal documents, suggest that Amazon’s long-term goal is to automate a significant portion of its operations, which could lead to a reduction in the number of human employees.
Amazon’s Perspective: Safety and New Opportunities
Amazon, for its part, emphasizes the safety benefits of its robotics program and argues that automation creates new, more highly skilled jobs. The company points to roles such as robotics technicians and AI specialists as examples of new career paths that have been created as a result of its investment in automation. The company also states that the use of robots to perform repetitive and physically demanding tasks reduces the risk of injury for its employees.
The deployment of Sequoia and Digit represents a new chapter in Amazon’s automation story. As these technologies become more sophisticated and widespread, the relationship between humans and robots in the workplace will continue to evolve, with implications for the future of work in the logistics industry and beyond.