Amazon Adopts AI-Backed Robotics System “Sequoia” to Enhance Warehouse Efficiency and Safety
Amazon has recently introduced “Sequoia,” a state-of-the-art AI-powered robotics system in their warehouses, aimed at accelerating delivery times, bolstering safety, and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Sequoia has the potential to boost product search and storage speed by up to 75% while improving order fulfillment by up to 25%. This cutting-edge system is already operational in one of Amazon’s warehouses situated in Houston.
Sequoia’s operational process involves vehicles transporting product totes to a sorting machine. Employing robotic arms and computer vision, the system identifies inventory before forwarding it to human employees for delivery, ensuring items are easily accessible at waist level and eliminating the need to reach for items on high shelves, thereby prioritizing worker safety.
Sparrow, an AI-fueled robotic arm introduced in 2022, follows Sequoia and handles the remaining products, further streamlining operations. Amazon has strategically designed these robotics systems with both speed and safety in mind, aiming to minimize workplace injuries. The intent is for humans and machines to collaborate optimally within the warehouse environment.
Amazon is committed to continually enhancing safety in its warehouses. Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics’ Chief Technologist, has emphasized that the ultimate goal is to eliminate mundane tasks, allowing robots to complement human staff. Amazon clarified that the integration of automation and robotics is not intended to replace jobs. Despite introducing various robotics systems, such as Sequoia, over the past decade, Amazon continues to employ a substantial human workforce.
In 2022, Amazon announced a $1 billion fund dedicated to logistics and supply chain innovation. During the same year, the company introduced Sparrow, a robot designed to handle various objects with dexterity, mirroring human capabilities.
