Amazon introduces Vulcan, a robot that not only sees but also feels objects

Amazon has unveiled Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch. It is already being tested in warehouses in the US and Germany. This is the company's first robot capable of "feeling" the objects it works with.

Here's What We Know

Vulcan recognises the moment of contact, the force of pressure and the shape of objects, which allows it to move goods efficiently and safely.

Unlike conventional industrial robots that stop or punch through everything in their path, Vulcan acts gently and precisely. It is equipped with an arm that resembles a hair straightener: one part moves other items in the cell, while the other part holds the goods and feeds them into place via a built-in conveyor.

Vulcan uses a camera and a vacuum suction cup to retrieve items from the cells. It sees the item it needs, chooses which part to grab, and makes sure it takes exactly what it needs. Currently, Vulcan can handle about 75% of the products in Amazon's catalogues. If it can't, it calls for a human.

The system is already in operation in the US and Germany, where it helps employees by performing tasks on the top and bottom shelves of inventory racks. This reduces the need for ladders and makes it easier for employees to work. The company says that Vulcan learns from mistakes and becomes smarter over time. Amazon plans to roll it out to warehouses in Europe, the UK, and the US in the coming years.

Amazon recently announced Ocelot, the company's new processor for quantum computing. The prototype chip uses "cat qubits" that suppress certain types of quantum errors.

Source: Amazon