Amazon is experimenting with using humanoid robots as robotic workers in some of warehouses in the US. With this move, Amazon is taking automation to a new level. This move highlights the tech giant's ongoing efforts to optimize its operations and boost its efficiency.
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The company says that using robots in the warehouse will “free up staff” for more important activities.
Amazon has a history of lawsuits and accusations of creating a problematic and sometimes hostile work environment for warehouse workers. There are several testimonies from former Amazon warehouse workers who say they were so overworked and on such tight schedules that they had to urinate into water bottles while at their jobs because they didn't have time to go to the designated restrooms.
Multiple reports have also shown that Amazon's warehouses have some of the highest worker attrition rates in the United States. In some cities, the attrition rate can be double the national average.
The company announced that the introduction of the humanoid robots named “Digit” aims to “free up our employees to provide better service to our customers.” Digit, equipped with arms and legs, mimics human movement, allowing it to move, lift and handle objects in a manner similar to a human worker.
Despite concerns about Amazon's automation against labor unions, the company claims that its robotic systems have created "hundreds of thousands of new jobs" in operations , including 700 different job categories that did not exist before.
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Unions expressed concern about Amazon's push for automation, implying that it leads to job losses at fulfillment centers. A representative of the GMB union noted that Amazon's automation is a battle without compromises towards job loss.
Amazon's efforts to automate its operations have already led to the deployment of over 750,000 robots, which work alongside human employees to handle repetitive tasks.
Amazon Robotics' chief technologist, Tye Brady, emphasized the irreplaceable role of human workers in the fulfillment process and dismissed the idea of fully automated warehouses in the future.
Unlike traditional wheeled robots used in Amazon’s warehouses, Digit has a pair of legs to move around. This innovation allows it to navigate stairs, ladders and other obstacles found in Amazon’s facilities. Scott Dresser described Digit as a prototype, and the test aims to assess its compatibility and safety when working alongside human employees.
Amazon has increased its use of robots to boost operational efficiency and reduce costs. In addition to humanoid robots, the company has previously introduced wheeled robots to transport goods in its warehouses and has begun drone in select areas of the United States.
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The perspective of robotic workers promises possible changes in the organization and operation of businesses, making human workers available for other, possibly more significant, tasks.
As the theory goes, robotic workers will take over the most routine and often highly demanding tasks, freeing up human resources from this pressure. Such tasks may include assembly processes, repetitive daily activities, or tasks that risk the safety of human personnel.
Beyond that, the higher‑educated employees could focus on more intricate and significant functions, while the robots will do the “dirty work”. As noted, this capability could improve productivity, increase efficiency, and boost economic growth.
How much truth is there behind these prospects?
While this change may lead to positive outcomes, there are also many who are concerned. Some believe that the automation of work could lead to increased unemployment as machines replace human workers. Others fear that robots could become too independent, leading to uncontrolled growth under the management of machines.
Source: firstpost
