Amazon Explores Humanoid Robots for Warehouse Collaboration
In a bold move toward further automation, Amazon is conducting trials with humanoid robots in its US warehouses. The tech giant has said that the aim is to "free employees up to better deliver for our customers”.
The experimental robot, called Digit, is designed to mimic human movements, with arms and legs that enable it to move, grasp, and handle items. Amazon claims its robotics systems have led to the creation of “hundreds of thousands” of new jobs. Rather than relying on wheels, Digit has two legs that allow it to navigate steps and stairs, making it a unique prototype in the world of warehouse robotics. Amazon stresses that this is an experiment to explore safe collaboration between robots and human employees.
Scott Dresser of Amazon Robotics clarified, "It's an experiment that we're running to learn a little bit more about how we can use mobile robots and manipulators in our environment here at Amazon." Additionally, Dresser emphasised that new technologies have often led to job creation rather than job loss, as they necessitate human maintenance and repair.
While Amazon continues to integrate robotics into its operations, it remains committed to supporting its employees. The company is conscious of the concerns surrounding job displacement due to automation. Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics' chief technologist, stated, "People are so central to the fulfilment process; the ability to think at a higher level, the ability to diagnose problems."
However, not everyone shares this perspective. Stuart Richards, an organiser at the UK trade union GMB, commented on Amazon's approach, saying that "Amazon's automation is [a] head-first race to job losses," and that they have already witnessed the disappearance of hundreds of jobs due to automation in fulfilment centres. Amazon has dismissed this claim, stating that their robotic workforce, which now includes over 750,000 robots, collaborates with human staff on "highly repetitive tasks."
Amazon is not alone in its pursuit of humanoid robots for logistical purposes. Other major companies, such as Tesla, are exploring similar avenues for more efficient operations. Nevertheless, Amazon's experiments with robots like Digit underscore their belief in the potential for collaborative human-robot work in their ever-evolving logistics landscape.
