←back to thread

Amazon's Vulcan Robots Now Stow Items Faster Than Humans

(spectrum.ieee.org)
209 points Luc | 8 comments | 09 May 25 11:18 UTC | HN request time: 1.057s | source | bottom
Show context
philipwhiuk ◴[09 May 25 12:04 UTC] No.43935844[source]▶
It's interesting how Amazon is embedding robots in human-designed warehouses whereas Ocado has humans overseeing a robotic warehouse.

The later is a much easier problem.

replies(6): >>43935863 #>>43935916 #>>43935979 #>>43936186 #>>43938069 #>>43938207 #
vidarh ◴[09 May 25 12:14 UTC] No.43935916[source]▶
The Ocado warehouse automation is pretty crazy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssZ_8cqfBlE

replies(3): >>43936160 #>>43936336 #>>43937344 #
1. RaSoJo ◴[09 May 25 13:11 UTC] No.43936336[source]▶
Ocado did run into multiple fire issues due to these robots colliding with each other. In 2019 and 2021 [1]

Wonder if the matter has been resolved.

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57883332

replies(2): >>43936708 #>>43938100 #
2. havblue ◴[09 May 25 13:49 UTC] No.43936708[source]▶
I'd suggest robots with fire extinguishers.
replies(1): >>43939559 #
3. kevin_thibedeau ◴[09 May 25 15:42 UTC] No.43938100[source]▶
I'm curious how Amazon handles fire in the midst of their Kiva pods. Do they have procedures for retasking an army of robots to clear a path for humans to get access?
replies(1): >>43938312 #
4. foobarian ◴[09 May 25 16:01 UTC] No.43938312[source]▶
If there are really no humans there they could just fill the warehouse with nitrogen or something. No fire!
replies(1): >>43938614 #
5. kevin_thibedeau ◴[09 May 25 16:29 UTC] No.43938614{3}[source]▶
Lithium battery fires don't feed on atmospheric oxygen. That's the most likely ignition source.
replies(1): >>43938787 #
6. littlestymaar ◴[09 May 25 16:45 UTC] No.43938787{4}[source]▶
True, though the problem isn't just robot batteries burning up, but setting all the stock ablaze and this part is indeed feeding in atmospheric oxygen.
7. ido ◴[09 May 25 18:06 UTC] No.43939559[source]▶
Or non-combustible robots
replies(1): >>43940476 #
8. jajuuka ◴[09 May 25 20:12 UTC] No.43940476{3}[source]▶
Need to quit running all the robots on gasoline and building them out a wood.