Collaborative robotics will have impact: Amazon

New Delhi: Amazon sees a future centred around 'collaborative robotics' where machines are geared to amplify human capability and potential, rather than replace them, according to Tye Brady, chief technologist at the e-commerce giant's robotics unit. Amazon, which recently deployed one-millionth robot in its global operations and introduced 'DeepFleet', an AI technology to optimally coordinate movement of robots across fulfilment network (its intelligent warehouses), asserts that robotics will play a key role in building more capable societies.

The company has grown from deploying a single robot type that moved inventory shelves across warehouse floors in 2012, to operating a diverse fleet of robots aimed at boosting operational efficiency. Amazon's lineup of robots includes 'Hercules', which can lift and move up to 1,250 pounds of inventory, 'Pegasus' robots that use precision conveyor belts to handle individual packages, and 'Proteus'.

'Proteus', in fact, is a fully autonomous mobile robot, that navigates around employees in open and unrestricted areas of Amazon sites while moving heavy carts filled with customer orders.

"I really believe that over the long term, we will have physical AI (Artificial Intelligence) systems that we are pioneering which will really change society for the better," Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics, told reporters.

The future of robotics will ride on collaboration, that is, building machines that extend human capability and amplify human potential, Brady said, adding that Amazon sees robotics amplifying human impact, not replacing humans.

"We are pioneering a new body of work that we call 'collaborative robotics' and I really see that in the future. How can we build our machines to extend human capability, human potential? How can we build machines that are tools for people to use, for them to gain efficiencies. (PTI)