Amazon in the Classroom

Summary

The video introduces Hercules, a robot designed by Amazon Fulfillment Technologies, and explores how robots and humans work together in Amazon's fulfillment centers. From robots like Hercules transporting shelves to the automated sorting of packages in sort centers, the video showcases the technology and robotics at play. It highlights the role of AI, computer vision, and various robots in the process of fulfilling orders, with a focus on safety and efficiency. The video also encourages learning in STEM fields, inspiring viewers to consider a career in engineering to design and program such technology.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hercules, the robot, is designed to bring large shelves of items to Amazon employees within fulfillment centers.
• 😀 Over 750,000 robots work alongside Amazon employees to streamline operations in fulfillment centers.
• 😀 Amazon's robots, like the Drive Unit introduced in 2012, help create new full-time jobs and increase efficiency.
• 😀 The robots use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, and 2D imaging to assist with tasks like stacking products and transporting goods.
• 😀 Amazon's Tech vests help ensure that employees stay safe while working alongside robots in the fulfillment centers.
• 😀 Amazon has over 175 fulfillment centers worldwide, with each one being as large as 28 football fields in size.
• 😀 Robots help bring products stored in soft pods to stations, where they are placed into yellow totes for easier identification.
• 😀 Conveyor belts are used to transport orders throughout the fulfillment center to their next destination.
• 😀 In outbound docks, robots help load packages onto trucks that transport them to sort centers.
• 😀 At sort centers, robots use advanced technology to sort packages by destination before they are placed in smaller delivery trucks for final delivery.
• 😀 Engineers program and design robots, and they encourage others to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to become future engineers.

Q & A

What is the main role of Hercules the robot in the Amazon Fulfillment Center?

Hercules is a robot built to transport large shelves of items within an Amazon Fulfillment Center, assisting employees by bringing products to them.

How many robots are working alongside Amazon employees, according to the transcript?

Over 750,000 robots are working alongside Amazon employees to help with various tasks within fulfillment centers.

What kind of technology is used in the Stow stations at Amazon?

The Stow stations at Amazon use artificial intelligence and computer vision to aid in organizing and storing products.

How do Amazon's palletizers work?

Amazon's palletizers use computer vision to stack totes of products, ensuring efficient and accurate handling of items.

What are Tech vests and how do they help in Amazon Fulfillment Centers?

Tech vests worn by employees help communicate with robots to ensure safety while working in the fulfillment center by keeping employees aware of their surroundings and robotic movements.

How large are Amazon’s fulfillment centers?

Amazon’s fulfillment centers can be as large as 1.2 million square feet, which is almost equivalent to 28 football fields placed end to end.

What role do robots like Hercules play in the outbound dock process?

Robots like Hercules help bring packages to the outbound dock, where they are then transferred to large Amazon trucks for delivery to sort centers.

How do Amazon robots like Proteus navigate through the fulfillment center?

Robots like Proteus use simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) to sense their surroundings, allowing them to figure out where they are and navigate around obstacles autonomously.

What happens at a sort center in the Amazon fulfillment process?

At a sort center, packages are organized based on their destinations, using conveyors and robotic arms to sort them, ensuring they are placed in the correct route for delivery.

How does Amazon deliver packages to customers after they leave the sort center?

After packages are sorted, they are sent to delivery stations, where they are placed into smaller trucks for final delivery to customers’ homes. Delivery drivers then transport these packages according to optimized routes.