Amazon warehouse employees may soon get a couple of new co - prole : Ernie and Bert .
Those are the names of some of the new robot Amazon is test to move carts , packages , and other item across its fulfilment nerve center . The goal is to make its employee ’ job safe , part of an initiative Amazon launchedin Mayto reduce recordable incident rates by 50 % by 2025 .
It ’s testing out four unexampled robots in totality , Amazon said ina web log postSunday . And before you postulate : Yes , they all have cutesy names . apparently to distract from the well - documentedhorrifying work conditionsthey’ve been designed to assuage .
Gif: Amazon (YouTube) / Gizmodo
There’sErnie , a workstation system that remember items from the warehouse ’s fluid shelf so employees do n’t have to reach up or bend down themselves . As part of testing , Amazon is pile up data point on Ernie ’s performance from its enquiry and innovation science laboratory along with anecdotal feedback from employees at another readiness where it ’s being tested .
“ The invention with a automaton like Ernie is interesting because while it does n’t make the summons go any quicker , we ’re optimistic , base on our testing , it can make our facilities safer for employee , ” said Amazon ’s worldwide director of advanced technology Kevin Keck in the web log military post .
Bertis one of the company ’s first sovereign roving robot designed to cruise through facilities by itself using Amazon ’s proprietary safety , perceptual experience , and navigation technical school . Since it can move independently , workers could ask it to ferry items across the warehouse floor . Amazon state Bert could eventually be able to move larger , heavier item to “ help lessen separate out on employee . ”
Scooter , visualise in the lintel mental image above , andKermitare two other AI - power robots that Amazon has in development specifically made for transporting carts . These case of golem , known as autonomously guided carts , could take over workers ’ chore of moving empty package containers across fulfilment inwardness , potentially reducing the risk of exposure of employee strain and collision . It would also free up prison term for employee to “ focus on jobs that require their critical thinking accomplishment , ” according to Amazon . ( By that , I take over it means freshening up their resumes to find work elsewhere ) .
Amazon say it design to deploy Scooter to at least one of its facilities this year . Kermit , which read strips of magnetic tape and tags on the ground to find out its course and swiftness , is further along in development , Amazon said . It ’s presently being tested at several U.S. sites and will be introduced to at least a dozen more across North America this year .
“ The persona robotics and advanced technology can play in not only introduce for customers , but helping make our facility safer , is a monumental motivation for me and my team , ” Keck said . “ The health and safety of our employees is our number one priority . By listening to them , innovating on their behalf , and drive Modern technology into our facilities over the coming months and years , I ’m confident we ’ll make a big contribution to our goal of reducing recordable incident by 50 % by 2025 . ”
As part of that goal , Amazon pledge in May to invest more than $ 300 million into safe production this year . Itsnotoriously overworkedwarehouse faculty routinely face exhausting 10 - hour “ megacycle ” geological fault and workload so grueling that employees often do n’t have meter touse the bath . One investigationfound that Amazon recorded 14,000 serious injuries at its storage warehouse in 2019 , roughly 7.7 serious injuries per 100 employee , which is closely double the most recent manufacture standard .
At least these robots seem like a more sound idea than Amazon ’s last attempt at meliorate working conditions : ZenBooths , ordespair closetsas they were quickly jest at by the internet . The thought was employee could go to these casket - sized box to meditate and stare at a facsimile of the shining blue sky . You know , just in case they draw a blank what that looks like during those megacycle shifts . Sound dystopian enough for you ?
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