Amazon unveils touch-sensitive robot to boost warehouse efficiency
Amazon has introduced Vulcan, a new touch-sensitive robot designed to enhance warehouse operations by handling a wider range of items with improved precision, The Guardian reported. Unveiled at the company’s “Delivering the Future” event in Germany, Vulcan uses artificial intelligence to identify and grasp about 75% of warehouse goods by touch, marking a significant advancement in robotics.
The robot will assist humans by stowing items across various shelving levels, reducing the need for bending or ladder use. Vulcan joins Amazon’s growing fleet of over 750,000 robots already in operation. While the move signals increased automation, Amazon says robots are meant to support—not replace—human workers.
Tye Brady, Amazon’s chief robotics technologist, emphasized that people remain essential for problem-solving and system oversight. The company also announced AI-driven packaging technology aimed at reducing waste and revealed expansion of its budget-friendly Amazon Haul site in the UK, as it continues to invest in efficiency and affordability across its operations.
