United States: E-commerce giant Amazon has revealed its new bipedal robot, Digit, which is capable of replacing humans in warehouses. Digit can move, grasp, and handle items in spaces and corners of warehouses in new ways.
Amazon has started testing Digit at its facility this week. Amazon said this humanoid robot “can work collaboratively with employees.” The initial use for Digit will be to help employees with tote recycling.
According to the firm, “over the last 10 years, we’ve rolled out hundreds of thousands of robotics systems while also creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs within our operations.”
Earlier this year, Amazon announced 9,000 job cuts, adding to a total of 27,000 layoffs, marking the largest workforce reduction in the history of the e-commerce platform, as per the statement. The exact number of employees affected in the most recent round is not currently disclosed.
Amazon noted that it has over 750,000 robots that work alongside its employees.
Agility Robotics, a startup in Corvallis, Oregon, with support from Amazon, has manufactured Digit. This robot stands 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall, weighs 143 pounds (65 kg), and boasts the ability to walk in various directions, including forwards, backward, and sideways. Additionally, it can crouch and has a carrying capacity of up to 35 pounds (16 kg).
The company has also launched a new robotic system named Sequoia. It’s now operating at one of its fulfilment centres in Houston, Texas. This new mobile robot has greater speed and increased accuracy for delivery estimates.
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