Amazon says its new Vulcan robot isn't 'numb or dumb,' designed to work like humans
Amazon has introduced a new robot for its fulfilment centres called Vulcan. The company describes it as "neither numb nor dumb," and its first robot with a sense of touch. Amazon revealed Vulcan during its Delivering the Future event in Germany. Amazon Vulcan has helped in creating new job categories, Amazon says.(Amazon)
"What many humans do so easily, few robots can tackle," Amazon says. It added that most robots can't feel most things, not just emotionally but in terms of sensory perception. The company calls most robots "numb and dumb." But with Vulcan, it plans to change this. Here's how.
Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 likely to be world's slimmest foldable- Here's what we know How Is Vulcan Different And What's New
Amazon claims that Vulcan is transforming how Amazon operates at its fulfilment centres. It's helping to make employees' jobs safer and customer orders more efficient. This primarily stems from Vulcan's ability to sense more objects and handle them better.
Typically, Amazon's inventory is stored in fabric-covered pods divided into compartments about a foot wide, each holding an average of ten items. But for the average robot, grabbing an item from these spaces has been challenging, which lacked the natural style of human hands.
This is where Vulcan comes in. It can easily manipulate objects within these compartments, making room as needed. This is because Vulcan can actually detect when it makes contact, how much force it is applying, and how much force should be applied before stopping, ensuring no damage to products.
This is achieved through an "end of arm tooling" that resembles a ruler stuck to a hair straightener, alongside force sensors that measure how hard it's pushing or how strongly it's holding an object.
Vulcan also has an arm featuring a camera and a suction cup. This arm is responsible for grabbing objects while the camera monitors to ensure it picks up the correct item.
Also Read: iPhone 18 Pro likely to ditch Dynamic Island for under-display Face ID- Details Working Like Humans But Creating New Job Categories
Amazon claims that Vulcan has the ability to pick and stow about 75% of the items in its fulfilment centres. It operates at speeds comparable to frontline employees, marking a significant shift in how automation and AI support human workers.
The introduction of Vulcan has allowed Amazon to create new role categories, ranging from robotic floor monitors to on-site reliability maintenance engineers. To support this shift, Amazon is offering training programmes to help employees transition into robotics and other technical fields.
MOBILE FINDER: iPhone 16 LATEST Price, Specs And More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Who is Naveen Chopra? Former Paramount CFO and media executive tapped by Roblox
to Online gaming and games creation platform Roblox, has appointed former Paramount executive Naveen Chopra as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective from June 30, 2025, the company said in a release. It added Naveen Chopra will manage the company's financial operations, "including accounting, internal audit, tax and treasury, business operations, investor relations, and financial planning and analysis' functions. 'His experience in driving growth and innovation across both technology and entertainment companies will be instrumental in Roblox's ongoing expansion,' the release noted. While his immediate previous role was as CFO of Paramount Global, Chopra has more than 25 years of 'financial and strategic leadership experience' in various tech and media companies, including Amazon, TiVo and Pandora. A veteran executive in the media and technology spaces, he has spent over 10 years as CFO of a listed company. At Paramount, he drove the transition from legacy media to streaming, producing direct to consumer subscription and advertising-based businesses, which now comprise more than 25 per cent of the company's revenue. It was under Chopra that Viacom sold its stake in the Viacom18 JV to its partner TV18 (subsidiary of Reliance Industries) and exited the Indian market in 2024. Through Viacom, Paramount has presence in the Indian TV space since 2004 with youth programming channels such as MTV and VH1. As the CFO of Amazon's Devices and Services business, Chopra spearheaded monetisation for some of Amazon's fastest growing and most strategic consumer bets such as Alexa, Fire TV, Ring, Kindle, and Project Kuiper. Additionally, he has held CFO roles at Pandora and Tivo. Chopra is also a member of the board of directors at Macy's Inc. He holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Economics and a Master of Business Administration, both from Stanford University. In his statement, Chopra said Roblox presents a unique opportunity 'to connect and empower a scaled global audience'. He added that the role gives him an opportunity 'to combine my passion for revolutionary consumer entertainment with my experience in technology and media to drive the next chapter of growth at Roblox'. Roblox CEO and co-founder David Baszucki hailed Chopra's prior experience and called him the 'ideal leader' for the company. 'Naveen's experience as CFO at leading companies equips him with invaluable financial and strategic acumen to foster Roblox's growth. His engineering foundation further enhances his ability to align technical operations with financial strategy, making him an ideal leader for our ongoing innovation and success,' Baszucki said. Chopra is succeeding Michael Guthrie, who in 2024 said he would step down as CFO to pursue personal interests. Guthrie will stay as a consultant with Roblox to ensure a smooth transition.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Not Just the IITs: LPU Student's ₹2.5 Crore Job Placement Breaks New Ground
When it comes to engineering placements in India, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have long set the benchmark. However, recent placement outcomes at Lovely Professional University (LPU) are challenging this narrative, with LPU students now attracting offers that rival-and in some cases, surpass-those at the country's most prestigious institutions. In a landmark achievement for the 2025 placement season, Sri Vishnu, a final-year BTech Electronics and Communication Engineering student at LPU, has secured a domestic package of 2.5 crore per annum from a leading robotics and automation company. This is one of the highest packages offered to a graduating engineering student in India this year. LPU's placement momentum did not stop there. Betireddy Naga Vamsi Reddy, another final-year student from the ECE department, received an international offer of 1.03 crore ($118,000) from a prominent AI robotics company. Over 1,700+ LPU students have received offers from top MNCs, with packages ranging from Rs 10 LPA to Rs 2.5 Crore. These achievements underscore LPU's growing reputation as a destination for top recruiters seeking highly skilled engineering talent. 'This isn't an exception. It's a reflection of LPU's growing momentum in producing industry-ready graduates capable of competing at the highest levels,' said a senior official at LPU's Division of Career Services. Massive Placement Drive with Impressive Scale The scale of LPU's placement drive is equally impressive. The marquee placements are not isolated successes. In the recent placement cycles: A total of 7,204 job offers were made to students across various engineering disciplines, reflecting the strong industry demand for LPU graduates. Notably, 1,602 students received multiple job offers, further underscoring their employability. The average salary package for the top 25% of placed students stood at an impressive 10.23 LPA. Prestigious companies, including Palo Alto Networks, Microsoft, Amazon, and ServiceNow, were among the top recruiters visiting the campus. In a standout achievement, Adireddy Vasu, a BTech ECE student, set an institutional record by securing seven job offers. High-Paying Roles across Global Brands LPU's recent placement data reads like a who's who of the global tech landscape, with students landing highly sought-after roles in cutting-edge fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud engineering, and product development—domains that demand exceptional technical and analytical expertise. Tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon have made standout offers, with Microsoft offering the highest package at 52.20 LPA and Amazon close behind at 46.94 LPA, reflecting the calibre of talent being nurtured at the university. Mass Hiring by Industry Giants LPU's industry partnerships extend well beyond marquee names, showcasing a deep-rooted commitment to student employability across disciplines. Top-tier recruiters such as Capgemini, Mindtree, Cognizant, Accenture, and TCS offered hundreds of positions, with Capgemini hiring over 700 students, Mindtree 420+, Cognizant 400+, and both Accenture and TCS bringing 250+ students on board. This impressive placement performance reflects more than just individual success stories—it highlights LPU's systematic approach to industry engagement and student readiness. A Global Pipeline of Tech Talent LPU has steadily built a global reputation. Graduates now work at Fortune 500 companies across the USA, UK, Australia, and Europe, many with packages exceeding 1 crore per annum. Core streams such as Robotics, Automation, ECE, CSE, and Mechanical Engineering continue to dominate in both domestic and international placement rosters. Why LPU, Not Just IITs? The secret behind LPU's placement leap lies in its skill-first approach, exemplified by its EduRevolution framework. Students receive real-world exposure, industry certifications, and dedicated placement training from the second year onward. 'At LPU, we don't just prepare students for jobs—we prepare them to lead, innovate, and disrupt,' said Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Founder Chancellor of LPU and Rajya Sabha MP. This performance positions LPU as a formidable contender in India's engineering education and placement landscape, offering outcomes that rival the nation's most established institutions. Admissions for 2025 Closing Soon – Take the next step now: Applications for the 2025 academic year are closing soon at LPU. If you're ready to launch your global career and be part of India's most dynamic, industry-driven university, now is the time. Seats are limited, and deadlines are approaching fast. Visit 'This article is part of sponsored content programme.'
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Most advanced foldable': Samsung teases Galaxy Z Fold 7 ultra-slim design
Samsung is expected to launch the new generation foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, in July 2025. As we wait to get an official launch date, the South Korean giant has been teasing its book-style foldable, creating hype around the new models. Now, in the latest tease, Samsung teased that the Galaxy Z Series will be the 'thinnest, lightest and most advanced foldable.' This new teaser aligns with the previous leak surrounding Galaxy Z Fold 7 being the slimmest foldable ever, leaving several foldables behind in thinness. Alongside flaunting a slim design, Apple also highlighted that the foldable will be even more durable. These new details not only create curiosity but also excitement about what Samsung has planned for the new foldables. Here's everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 likely to be world's slimmest foldable- Here's what we know Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in July, and the company has already started to tease the product. Samsung has teased a new 9-second video showcasing the slimness of the foldable, which is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The company says that it has reached a new milestone with the upcoming Galaxy Z Series in terms of refining the design. The foldable is not only the thinnest and lightest, but it also claims to ensure durability that is 'built to last.' However, it should be noted that Samsung did not highlight any other specifics of the devices or the model name, but it says, 'The Ultra experience is ready to unfold.' Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE specs tipped, likely to have similar features as Flip 6- All details While the information surrounding the foldables is slim, rumours suggest that the Galaxy Z Fold 7 could pack industry-first technologies. Additionally, Samsung is also tipped to introduce a new hinge mechanism that not only reduces the crease visibility but also makes the smartphone more durable. Well, after witnessing the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, it will not come as a surprise that foldable could be with an ultra-slim design while also maintaining a durable build. Also read: Foldable iPhone may launch soon with crease-free display, new hinge tech Alongside design and build, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is expected to get a performance upgrade with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. The smartphone may also run on OneUI 8 based on Android 16, which comes 6 months early. Samsung is also reported to include an upgraded 200MP main camera, enhancing the photography experience. Therefore, we may have to wait for the official release to know what the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has in store for users.
