12 Types of Amazon Warehouse Robots

What are AMAZON robots called? These are the main warehouse robots used by AMAZON to boost its operations: 

  

• KIVA
• HERCULES
• PEGASUS
• PEGASUS X-SORT DRIVE
• XANTHUS
• BERT
• ERNIE
• CARDINAL
• SPARROW
• PROTEUS
• SCOOTER
• KERMIT

       

Keep on reading to discover all the amazon robots one by one.

  

Many things have changed since Amazon's acquisition of Kiva PODS (yes, those small and nice orange bots 🤭). Nowadays, it is difficult to find something that has not been thoroughly reviewed.

🤖 In an Amazon warehouse, everything is mechanized.

In fact, there are many types warehouse robots, strategically engineered for maximum efficiency.

In this article, I list all of Amazon's Warehouse robotics solutions.

Let's start this article with a nice video... just to understand what we're talking about... 👇🏽 

  

 

  

What Robots does Amazon Robotics use? 

 

  

Aren't fancy these amazon warehouse robots names?

DIGIT: The AMAZON Humanoid Arrival

Amazon is currently testing a humanoid robot called Digit, developed by Agility Robotics, for use in its warehouse operations.

 

Digit is designed to perform tasks in environments built for humans, making it suitable for navigating and operating within traditional warehouse settings.

The robot features advanced mobility and manipulation capabilities, equipped with cameras, sensors, and LiDAR to navigate efficiently, along with two robotic arms that enhance its ability to grasp and move objects.

These arms are particularly useful for tasks like tote consolidation, where Digit can autonomously organize and position storage containers in fulfillment centers. 

  

📢 For more info:  Amazon's Future Unveiled: Humanoid Robots and Advanced Automation in Warehouse

       

How many robots does Amazon have?  

On June 2023, Amazon has declared to have 750,000 robots in its distribution and fulfillment centers.  

Amazon's agv robots are one of the keys allowing the company to become the #1 worldwide. From only a few years ago to today, Amazon has grown far beyond that physical and mechanical warehouse we used to know.

Now, Amazon is taking automation one step further using a multitude types of warehouse automation technologies to improve productivity and profitability at its warehouses, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.

    

Related News

• Amazon's Future Unveiled: Humanoid Robots and Advanced Automation in Warehouse

 

    

Other Warehouse Robots similar to Amazon's ones? 

💡 But remember... Amazon is not the only one manufacturing outstanding warehouse robots... 😱 I have listed more than 200 AGV Manufacturers in agvnetwork excel list (of course, it's free ).

  

Visit agvnetwork's showroom to discover dozens of mobile robots

  

Types of AMAZON ROBOTICS

 Pods, Sorting Robots, Hybrid, Picking, Forklifts

Amazon Pods

 

When you enter into an Amazon fulfillment center, the robots may not look like your typical sci-fi expectations, but they pack more than human hands could ever achieve. 

At the fulfillment centers, Amazon robotic pods transport items to humans to be picked up and packaged (what is called Goods-To-Person). 

Using this robot-human alliance, humans can pack around 300 to 400 products per hour instead of just 100.

The "Amazon Bot System," is continuously optimized to increase package handling and delivery efficiency. 

This robotization started when Amazon acquired Kiva Systems, one of the pioneers of warehouse robots, in 2012.

Just like the scenes in The Jetsons where robot neighbors will assist their human house-mates, Amazon Kiva robots were expected to automate more than 40% of their operations in fulfillment centers.

The fleet of Amazon Automated Guided Vehicles include:     

 

The Original Kiva  

Amazon Robotics, commonly referred to by this name, was originally known as Kiva Systems.

Kiva Systems was a robotics company known for its innovative material handling technology, which was utilized extensively in warehouse automation.

The company was acquired by Amazon in 2012, and subsequently rebranded as Amazon Robotics.

One of the notable robots produced by Kiva Systems was the DU 1000 drive unit. This robot was designed to navigate warehouse floors autonomously and could lift loads up to 1000 pounds (approximately 450 kg), streamlining the process of retrieving, carrying, and placing items in fulfillment centers. 

💗 The Original Kiva was the starting point for Amazon's love affair with robots.

 

Amazon original Kiva

The Original Kiva was tasked with moving shelves/pods for storage and picking.

KIVA robot measured approximately  75 cm long, 60 cm wideand 35cm tall.

It weighted around 110kg and was able to lift 450 kilograms (1000 pounds).

Max speed was about 5 km/h.

      

The Hercules

Kiva Systems introduced Hercules in 2007. When it was initially introduced, it was called the DU 3000, as it could lift 3000 pounds.

    

The Pegasus

Taking its name from the mythical winged horse, Pegasus replaces the original Kiva.

Pegasus stands 19 cm tall, so 10 cm lower than the original DU1000.

The Pegasus not only allowed to store more products, in the same shelf, it also was able to lift 560kg, being slightly more powerful than its predecessor, which could lift just 450 kilograms.

It is a simpler vehicle... less expensive while it has only half as many parts! 

   

Given the significant cost associated with replacing all original Kiva robots, it is unlikely that Amazon will undertake such an initiative across its existing facilities.

However, the company may incorporate its newer robot, Pegasus, in the development of new fulfillment centers.

Amazon specifically aims to position these new centers near urban areas. The strategic placement close to high population densities is intended to facilitate rapid delivery services, enabling Amazon to meet customer expectations of receiving orders within two hours or even as quickly as one hour.

 

  

Amazon sorting robots in the warehouse

 

The Pegasus X-Sort Drive

 

The Pegasus robot serves as a versatile platform to which various attachments can be added. For instance, one such attachment is the X-Sort Drive, which includes a half-meter long conveyor belt.

 

  

 

The X-Sort Drive does not carry storage pods. Instead, it has a different function: it helps sort and transport parcels directly to shipping areas.

 

Here’s how it works:

- A worker labels a package and places it on the Pegasus

- The robot then transports the package to the appropriate chute designated for the truck that will carry the parcel.

- At the chute, the package is automatically dropped off from the conveyor belt into the chute.

  

 

 

Pegasus X-Sort Drive allows much more flexibility to change the fulfillment center than tangled murky conveyor belts do now. Amazon claims that it has also halved the number of mis-sorting errors.

But due to the increased number of robots moving around on this Pegasus, Amazon had to create a new traffic control system to program even more traffic rules.

   

Amazon Hybrid (G2p+Sorting sorting robots)

Unlike the main sorting robots, hybrid robotics systems include two kinds of robots:

✅ SCARA style

✅LBRY/Parabolic Trough Robotics.

   

 

The systems are capable of handling eight different packages per hour, including those from smaller bins filled with packing peanuts. Within Amazon's range of hybrid robots, Xanthus stands out as the only model.

Introduced for the first time in June 2019 at Amazon MARS, Xanthus followed the Pegasus in the company's lineup. This drive unit not only carries pods but also supports a variety of attachments, making it highly versatile.

Xanthus offers several advantages over the original Kiva; it is less expensive, easier to operate, and features a slimmer design.

Additionally, its simplified construction means that it requires less maintenance.

The design of Xanthus includes a central base unit flanked by x-drive units on its left and right sides. These are similar to the X-Sort drives found on the Pegasus, which are used for sorting packages into chutes.

  

Amazon Picking Robots   

Picking is the next robotics generation... and of curse, Amazon is increasing efforts to have reliable piece picking robots. 

    

Sparrow Picking Robotic Arm

Amazon claims that Sparrow employs AI and computer vision to pick items..

The robot can firmly hold objects thanks to suction cups attached to its surface. In the past, robotic arms could pick up boxes of varying sizes but uniform shapes.

  

   

Sparrow can handle objects of varying curvature and size.  

AMAZON claims that its robotic arm can identify roughly 65% of their product range.

Even while the introduction of warehouse robots sometimes raises fears about the future of human employment, Amazon is certain that Sparrow will "take up boring activities," freeing up workers' time to focus on more meaningful tasks.

     
   

Cardinal 

Cardinal was announced on 2022 June the 22nd. It arrived to improve operator's ergonomic working conditions by reducing of twisting and turning motions. 

     

  

Cardinal is a robotic arm able to handle packages up to 50 pounds (near 22 kg). Thanks to its  advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision is able to choose one package out of a pile. But not only, it can also read a label and wisely place it in a cart (what Amazon calls "GoCart"). 

After that, a mobile robot like Proteus can safely transport it to its destination. 

  

Other Amazon warehouse robots   

With Amazon's growth comes a rapid rise in the demand for new warehouse robots for new applications. Thus, the company has been on the hunt for warehouse robots for the past few years. 

    

Proteus- The AMAZON Autonomous Mobile Robot
   

Proteus is the first autonomous mobile robot developed by AMAZON. It has been announced on 2022 June the 22nd.

   

   

Proteus Robot is the first AMAZON's "autonomous" robot, because until now, AMAZON has used G2P robots with QR code navigation that is not considered under the "autonomous" umbrella.

If you do not know how do AMRs differ from AGVs,  check this article: Differences between automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots. 

 

Proteus instead, is able to navigate and moves through AMAZON's facilities using advanced safety, perception, and navigation technology developed by Amazon. 

The robot has been built to be able to work and move around employees and not in confined to restricted areas.

In fact, proteus will act like and autonomous guided cart, moving carts what will reduce the need for people to manually move heavy objects through  facilities. 

   

Bert and Ernie

Bert and Ernie are front-loading warehouse robots used in the Amazon fulfillment centers, designed to handle an estimated 40% of all Amazon's orders.

   

 

Ernie moves around the stack using a robotic arm. Ernie takes totes off of a robotic shelf and uses a robotic arm to deliver it to employees, so they can remain in a more comfortable, stable, and ergonomically friendly position.

It lifts totes from the stack to place them in front of workers. By easily reaching low down or high up, Ernie reduces the risk of injuries caused by employees making strenuous movements.

 

   

 

Totes can be removed from shelves by Ernie, which then hands the goods over to human workers. Workers in warehouses don't have to bend over or crouch down for totes. Although robots like Ernie don't make processes go faster, they reportedly make employee safety a priority.

In contrast, Bert is mobile and can navigate the warehouse with the help of cameras and sensors. It can be ordered and programmed to transport packages within a facility by a worker.

 

 

  

By eliminating manual labor, workers focus on more important tasks instead of pushing or driving the machine.

Currently, Bert is a bit too small to transport bulkier and heavier items, but a larger version might be designed after testing. Various items can be moved by Bert through a warehouse by itself, including smaller objects, eliminating the need for additional trips by employees.

 

    

Scooter and Kermit 

The other robots in Amazon warehouses are Scooter and Kermit. These two robots are designed to move carts.  

In the long run, the company believes these robots will eliminate the need for workers to move empty boxes across facilities. The robots help Amazon employees devote more time to activities requiring critical thinking by reducing physical demands.

Scooter and Kermit are both autonomously guided vehicles.

  

Kermit is an automated guided cart (agc) with magnetic navigation where decision points are tags on the flooor tha indicate if it should change direction, speed up or slow down as it travels along. The company plans to have Scooter at each of its facilities pulling carts around the warehouse.

 

   

Scooter is an automated tractor that tows empty totes around, Kemet specializes in returning empty totes. The company says it has made its facilities safer by using Scooter and Kermit.

 

 

  
  

Amazon Automated Forklifts

To boost productivity, Amazon has been expanding its forklift fleet at a rapid pace. And the robotic system plays an integral role.

Once an Amazon employee scans an item for delivery, the forklift lifts it to drop it at its destination. Or it might take a pallet from the delivery truck to a designated slot within the warehouse.

In 2019 Amazon signed a deal with French robotics company Balyo. A warrant representing up to 29 % of Balyo's capital was handed to Amazon in exchange for Balyo products.

Today, BALYO supplies automated forklift systems (stackers, pallet jacks, VNAs, etc),  tow tractors, and other  robotics systems to Amazon, which has significantly advanced the latter's warehouse automation endeavors.

Amazon benefits from having forklifts that run around the clock, never quit and operate without fatigue. Human drivers may not be completely replaced for several years to come. Still, the technology is currently on its way to reducing costs and expediting what is already a fairly efficient process.

Are you interested in Robotic Forklifts? Check my full guide. 

Do not miss agvnetwork's free guide listing more than 60 Robotic Forklift Manufacturers    

Download The AGV Forklift Guide

    

In a nutshell

Amazon has a proactive approach to improving its operational performance and making processes more efficient. It takes a highly skilled and motivated workforce to implement innovative and disruptive systems, which is not easy for any company.

It seems that Amazon is always a step ahead its competition when it comes to robotics. 

Amazon's robotic family is a clear indication of the determination by the company to save costs, deliver safer working environments and meet customers' needs in the shortest time possible.

Worryingly, though, these machines often share much of the same space and responsibilities as traditional warehouse workers.

     

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