15,000 amazon kiva robots drive eighth generation fulfillment center

15,000 amazon kiva robots drive eighth generation fulfillment center
images courtesy of amazon and businesswire

to coincide with the biggest online shopping day of the year, cyber monday, amazon unveils its ‘eighth generation fulfillment center’ which utilizes robotics, vision systems and high-end technology to speed up delivery times for their customers. the main robots in question, the kivas, are operating across the U.S in numbers of over 15,000 in total, in order to meet the holiday demands.

the kiva cyborgs are not working alone however, they are joined by almost 20 years’ worth of other software and mechanical innovations, and one of the world’s largest robotic arms, the robo-stow, which is able to move large quantities of inventory. the other devices include the vision system that unloads and receipts an entire trailer of stock in as little as 30 minutes. these new technologies as well as the 80,000 additional seasonal employees hired, aim to fulfill consumer orders over the festive period and continue the efficiency in the future.

the kiva robots move around the center carrying the orders

‘the amazon fulfillment teams are dedicated to innovating in our fulfillment centers to increase speed of delivery while enabling greater local selection at lower costs for our customers. the advancements in our latest fulfillment centers hit all three of these customer desires while continuing to provide a work environment that is great for employees,’ said dave clark, amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations and customer service.

the robo-stow moves large boxes of inventory

an amazon employee picks up items to help the technology process

[h/t] businesswire