Amazon's New Robot Can Touch & Feel Things

Amazon unveiled Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch, at the Delivering the Future event in Dortmund, Germany. Designed to enhance worker safety, boost efficiency, and speed up order processing, Vulcan is now operating in fulfillment centers in Washington, USA, and Hamburg, Germany.

"we’re introducing a robot that is neither numb nor dumb. Built on key advances in robotics, engineering, and physical AI, Vulcan is our first robot with a sense of touch," Amazon said.

Unlike earlier robots, Vulcan features force feedback sensors and a specialised arm, allowing it to detect contact and adjust its grip for delicate handling in tight storage bins. This reduces the need for workers to use ladders or assume awkward positions, improving workplace ergonomics.

"Vulcan is not our first robot that can pick things up. With its sense of touch—its ability to understand when and how it makes contact with an object—Vulcan unlocks new ways to improve our operations jobs and facilities," Amazon added.

It can manage around 75% of the item types stored at Amazon facilities, using advanced robotics, engineering, and physical AI to pick and stow products, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

The robot is part of Amazon’s larger automation strategy, which now includes over 750,000 robots across its network. Vulcan's launch follows the creation of Amazon’s Frontier AI and Robotics (FAR) team and builds on earlier efforts like the trial of Digit, a humanoid robot developed by Agility Robotics.