亞馬遜(Amazon)本周公布了首款全自動(dòng)移動(dòng)機(jī)器人,它將很快在該公司的倉(cāng)庫(kù)中投入使用,與人類(lèi)一起共事。
公司在6月21日的公告中表示,與之前的型號(hào)不同,最新款機(jī)器人Proteus可以在人類(lèi)周?chē)\(yùn)行,不需要限制在由籠子圍住的區(qū)域內(nèi)。這款機(jī)器人在搬運(yùn)亞馬遜在倉(cāng)庫(kù)設(shè)施內(nèi)運(yùn)送貨物的輪式手推車(chē)GoCarts時(shí),能夠避開(kāi)人群。
亞馬遜寫(xiě)道:“如何將機(jī)器人安全融入到人類(lèi)活動(dòng)的物理空間,一直是個(gè)難題。我們認(rèn)為Proteus可以帶來(lái)改變,同時(shí)保持智能、安全和協(xié)作?!?/p>
亞馬遜稱(chēng),Proteus利用公司自主研發(fā)的先進(jìn)安全、感知和導(dǎo)航技術(shù),能夠避免撞上工人。公司發(fā)布的機(jī)器人介紹視頻顯示,Proteus在移動(dòng)過(guò)程中會(huì)發(fā)出一道綠色光束。如果有人進(jìn)入光束的范圍,機(jī)器人就會(huì)停下,等待人類(lèi)離開(kāi)之后繼續(xù)移動(dòng)。
Proteus初步將用于亞馬遜訂單履約與分揀中心的GoCart搬運(yùn)區(qū),但亞馬遜并未透露開(kāi)始部署機(jī)器人的時(shí)間。
亞馬遜并未立即答復(fù)《財(cái)富》雜志的置評(píng)請(qǐng)求。
這家公司表示:“我們的愿景是在整個(gè)網(wǎng)絡(luò)中實(shí)現(xiàn)GoCart搬運(yùn)自動(dòng)化,這將幫助減少人類(lèi)在設(shè)施內(nèi)手動(dòng)搬運(yùn)重物的必要,從而讓人類(lèi)專(zhuān)注于更有意義的工作?!?/p>
此外,亞馬遜還發(fā)布了自2012年收購(gòu)機(jī)器人公司Kiva Systems以來(lái),公司在過(guò)去十年開(kāi)發(fā)的其他多款新設(shè)備。
其中一款機(jī)械臂Cardinal可以從一堆包裹中舉起重達(dá)50磅的包裹,并通過(guò)讀取標(biāo)簽信息確定應(yīng)將其投放到哪個(gè)GoCart手推車(chē)內(nèi)。亞馬遜依舊在測(cè)試技術(shù)原型,但表示預(yù)計(jì)將在明年投放到訂單履約中心。
亞馬遜的公告稱(chēng):“重貨搬運(yùn)以及減少員工的扭曲和轉(zhuǎn)向移動(dòng),是我們?cè)诓粩嗤苿?dòng)自動(dòng)化的兩個(gè)重點(diǎn)領(lǐng)域,我們希望幫助減少員工受傷的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。Cardinal能夠執(zhí)行需要在有限空間內(nèi)搬起并翻轉(zhuǎn)大型或重型包裹或復(fù)雜包裝的任務(wù),從而減少員工受傷的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)?!?/p>
這家公司表示,新設(shè)備旨在減少人類(lèi)員工的受傷風(fēng)險(xiǎn),但《Reveal》和調(diào)查報(bào)道中心(Center for Investigative Reporting)在2020年發(fā)布的一份報(bào)告,對(duì)于自動(dòng)化技術(shù)能否打造更安全的工作場(chǎng)所提出了質(zhì)疑。報(bào)告發(fā)現(xiàn),雖然亞馬遜的員工受傷率是行業(yè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的兩倍,但“從2016年到2019年,在配備機(jī)器人的倉(cāng)庫(kù)內(nèi)工人重傷的比率比沒(méi)有配備機(jī)器人的倉(cāng)庫(kù)高50%以上?!眻?bào)告稱(chēng),這是因?yàn)槌咝实臋C(jī)器人提高了員工的工作速度,有時(shí)會(huì)達(dá)到造成傷害的程度。
在亞馬遜高調(diào)公布新技術(shù)幾天前,媒體Recode獲取的一份內(nèi)部備忘錄預(yù)測(cè)該在線(xiàn)零售商將出現(xiàn)勞動(dòng)力缺口。亞馬遜根據(jù)2021年年中以來(lái)所做的內(nèi)部研究,預(yù)計(jì)到2024年,其美國(guó)倉(cāng)庫(kù)將招不到員工?!都~約時(shí)報(bào)》(New York Times)調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn),去年,亞馬遜的人員流動(dòng)率約為150%,接近于零售和物流行業(yè)平均水平的兩倍。
除了通過(guò)提高工資留住現(xiàn)有的勞動(dòng)力和吸引更多求職者以外,內(nèi)部備忘錄還建議公司提高倉(cāng)庫(kù)的自動(dòng)化水平,以應(yīng)對(duì)迫在眉睫的勞動(dòng)力危機(jī)。
亞馬遜在6月21日的公告中反駁了公司計(jì)劃用機(jī)器人取代人類(lèi)員工的說(shuō)法。
亞馬遜說(shuō):“從收購(gòu)Kiva開(kāi)始,我們的愿景從來(lái)就不是人類(lèi)還是科技的二選一的決策。相反,我們的愿景是使人類(lèi)和科技能夠安全和諧共存,為我們的客戶(hù)提供服務(wù)。這個(gè)立場(chǎng)至今沒(méi)有改變?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
亞馬遜(Amazon)本周公布了首款全自動(dòng)移動(dòng)機(jī)器人,它將很快在該公司的倉(cāng)庫(kù)中投入使用,與人類(lèi)一起共事。
公司在6月21日的公告中表示,與之前的型號(hào)不同,最新款機(jī)器人Proteus可以在人類(lèi)周?chē)\(yùn)行,不需要限制在由籠子圍住的區(qū)域內(nèi)。這款機(jī)器人在搬運(yùn)亞馬遜在倉(cāng)庫(kù)設(shè)施內(nèi)運(yùn)送貨物的輪式手推車(chē)GoCarts時(shí),能夠避開(kāi)人群。
亞馬遜寫(xiě)道:“如何將機(jī)器人安全融入到人類(lèi)活動(dòng)的物理空間,一直是個(gè)難題。我們認(rèn)為Proteus可以帶來(lái)改變,同時(shí)保持智能、安全和協(xié)作。”
亞馬遜稱(chēng),Proteus利用公司自主研發(fā)的先進(jìn)安全、感知和導(dǎo)航技術(shù),能夠避免撞上工人。公司發(fā)布的機(jī)器人介紹視頻顯示,Proteus在移動(dòng)過(guò)程中會(huì)發(fā)出一道綠色光束。如果有人進(jìn)入光束的范圍,機(jī)器人就會(huì)停下,等待人類(lèi)離開(kāi)之后繼續(xù)移動(dòng)。
Proteus初步將用于亞馬遜訂單履約與分揀中心的GoCart搬運(yùn)區(qū),但亞馬遜并未透露開(kāi)始部署機(jī)器人的時(shí)間。
亞馬遜并未立即答復(fù)《財(cái)富》雜志的置評(píng)請(qǐng)求。
這家公司表示:“我們的愿景是在整個(gè)網(wǎng)絡(luò)中實(shí)現(xiàn)GoCart搬運(yùn)自動(dòng)化,這將幫助減少人類(lèi)在設(shè)施內(nèi)手動(dòng)搬運(yùn)重物的必要,從而讓人類(lèi)專(zhuān)注于更有意義的工作?!?/p>
此外,亞馬遜還發(fā)布了自2012年收購(gòu)機(jī)器人公司Kiva Systems以來(lái),公司在過(guò)去十年開(kāi)發(fā)的其他多款新設(shè)備。
其中一款機(jī)械臂Cardinal可以從一堆包裹中舉起重達(dá)50磅的包裹,并通過(guò)讀取標(biāo)簽信息確定應(yīng)將其投放到哪個(gè)GoCart手推車(chē)內(nèi)。亞馬遜依舊在測(cè)試技術(shù)原型,但表示預(yù)計(jì)將在明年投放到訂單履約中心。
亞馬遜的公告稱(chēng):“重貨搬運(yùn)以及減少員工的扭曲和轉(zhuǎn)向移動(dòng),是我們?cè)诓粩嗤苿?dòng)自動(dòng)化的兩個(gè)重點(diǎn)領(lǐng)域,我們希望幫助減少員工受傷的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。Cardinal能夠執(zhí)行需要在有限空間內(nèi)搬起并翻轉(zhuǎn)大型或重型包裹或復(fù)雜包裝的任務(wù),從而減少員工受傷的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。”
這家公司表示,新設(shè)備旨在減少人類(lèi)員工的受傷風(fēng)險(xiǎn),但《Reveal》和調(diào)查報(bào)道中心(Center for Investigative Reporting)在2020年發(fā)布的一份報(bào)告,對(duì)于自動(dòng)化技術(shù)能否打造更安全的工作場(chǎng)所提出了質(zhì)疑。報(bào)告發(fā)現(xiàn),雖然亞馬遜的員工受傷率是行業(yè)標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的兩倍,但“從2016年到2019年,在配備機(jī)器人的倉(cāng)庫(kù)內(nèi)工人重傷的比率比沒(méi)有配備機(jī)器人的倉(cāng)庫(kù)高50%以上?!眻?bào)告稱(chēng),這是因?yàn)槌咝实臋C(jī)器人提高了員工的工作速度,有時(shí)會(huì)達(dá)到造成傷害的程度。
在亞馬遜高調(diào)公布新技術(shù)幾天前,媒體Recode獲取的一份內(nèi)部備忘錄預(yù)測(cè)該在線(xiàn)零售商將出現(xiàn)勞動(dòng)力缺口。亞馬遜根據(jù)2021年年中以來(lái)所做的內(nèi)部研究,預(yù)計(jì)到2024年,其美國(guó)倉(cāng)庫(kù)將招不到員工?!都~約時(shí)報(bào)》(New York Times)調(diào)查發(fā)現(xiàn),去年,亞馬遜的人員流動(dòng)率約為150%,接近于零售和物流行業(yè)平均水平的兩倍。
除了通過(guò)提高工資留住現(xiàn)有的勞動(dòng)力和吸引更多求職者以外,內(nèi)部備忘錄還建議公司提高倉(cāng)庫(kù)的自動(dòng)化水平,以應(yīng)對(duì)迫在眉睫的勞動(dòng)力危機(jī)。
亞馬遜在6月21日的公告中反駁了公司計(jì)劃用機(jī)器人取代人類(lèi)員工的說(shuō)法。
亞馬遜說(shuō):“從收購(gòu)Kiva開(kāi)始,我們的愿景從來(lái)就不是人類(lèi)還是科技的二選一的決策。相反,我們的愿景是使人類(lèi)和科技能夠安全和諧共存,為我們的客戶(hù)提供服務(wù)。這個(gè)立場(chǎng)至今沒(méi)有改變?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
Amazon unveiled its first fully autonomous mobile robot this week, and it could soon join human workers on the company’s warehouse floors.
Unlike previous models, the latest robot, called Proteus, can operate alongside humans and will not be kept in caged-off areas, according to a company announcement on June 21. The robot will navigate around groups of people while lifting and moving Amazon’s GoCarts, wheeled trolleys that carry packages through facilities.
“Historically, it’s been difficult to safely incorporate robotics in the same physical space as people,” Amazon wrote. “We believe Proteus will change that while remaining smart, safe, and collaborative.”
Amazon said Proteus uses the company’s own advanced safety, perception, and navigation technology to avoid bumping into human workers. In a video the company released showcasing the robot, Proteus emits a green beam as it travels. Once a person steps into the range of that beam, the robot waits until they have moved before continuing on its path.
Initially, Proteus will work in the GoCart handling areas of Amazon’s fulfillment and sort centers, though the company did not say when deployment of the robots would start.
Amazon did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
“Our vision is to automate GoCart handling throughout the network, which will help reduce the need for people to manually move heavy objects through our facility and instead let them focus on more rewarding work,” the company said.
Amazon also revealed several other new machines that it has developed over the past decade since it acquired robotics company Kiva Systems in 2012.
One of those machines is Cardinal, a robotic arm that lifts packages of up to 50 pounds out of a pile and reads the label to know what GoCart to place it in. Amazon is still testing a prototype of the technology but said it expects to place it in fulfillment centers next year.
“The movement of heavy packages, as well as the reduction of twisting and turning motions by employees, are areas we continually look to automate to help reduce risk of injury,” the announcement said. “Cardinal reduces the risk of employee injuries by handling tasks that require lifting and turning of large or heavy packages or complicated packing in a confined space.”
Amazon says that its new machines are aimed at reducing the risk of injury for human workers, but a 2020 report from Reveal and the Center for Investigative Reporting casts doubt on the claim that automation will create a safer workplace. The report found that though injuries at Amazon are already twice as common as the industry standard, “the rate of serious injuries from 2016 to 2019 was more than 50% higher at warehouses with robots than ones without.” That’s because the presence of hyperefficient robots pushed employees to work faster, sometimes to the point of injury, per the report.
Amazon’s big reveal of its new tech comes days after an internal memo leaked to Recode, predicting a human labor gap for the online retailer. Based on internal research from mid-2021, Amazon expects to run out of people to hire in its U.S. warehouses by 2024. A New York Times?investigation showed last year that Amazon’s turnover rate is roughly 150% a year, or close to double the average in the retail and logistics industries.
In addition to raising wages to retain its current workforce and attract more applicants, the memo suggested the company increase automation in its warehouses to address its looming labor crisis.
Amazon pushed back against concerns that it plans to replace its human workforce with robots in June 21’s announcement.
“From the early days of the Kiva acquisition, our vision was never tied to a binary decision of people or technology. Instead, it was about people and technology working safely and harmoniously together to deliver for our customers. That vision remains today,” the company said.