In the future, a crew of humanoid robots might deliver your Amazon goods right to your door.
According to The Information, Amazon is working on AI software that would allow robots to deliver packages while being transported in Rivian electric vans. The program will soon be prepared for real-world testing at a new facility.
Amazon has nearly completed building an indoor “humanoid park” at one of the retail behemoth’s San Francisco offices that is about the size of a coffee shop, according to The Information, which cites an anonymous source “involved in the effort.” According to reports, Amazon plans to have humanoid robots “hitch a ride in the back of Amazon’s electric Rivian vans and spring out to deliver packages.” The obstacle course apparently includes one Rivian van for training purposes.
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Amazon has established a new agentic AI team to assist in the development of technologies that would power robots “operating in Amazon distribution and logistics hubs,” which is in line with the report. “Instead of rigid, specialized robots, we’re creating systems that can hear, understand, and act on natural language commands, turning warehouse robots into flexible, multi-talented assistants,” Amazon said in a statement to Silicon Valley.
The humanoid robot “Digit” from Agility Robotics, which was first proposed for logistical applications such as delivering packages and sitting in the back of vans, is one of several autonomous robots that Amazon is already utilizing in its warehouse operations. The training center at Amazon is the result of a deliberate attempt to realize this first idea. According to The Information, a $16,000 unit from China-based Unitree will be among the “variety” of humanoid robots being tested for package delivery at its facilities.
Amazon presently employs hundreds of thousands of workers to manage its shipping operations worldwide. In 2020, Amazon purchased the robotaxi business Zoox, indicating a goal to completely automate package delivery from the warehouse to your front door.
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