Amazon Robotics

After working on the business process team at Webvan, Mick Mountz concluded that the company's downfall was due to the inflexibility of existing material handling systems and the high cost of order fulfillment.{{cite web|url=http://www.kivasystems.com/about-us-the-kiva-approach/management-team/mick-mountz|title=Mick Mountz|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140315003609/http://www.kivasystems.com/about-us-the-kiva-approach/management-team/mick-mountz|archive-date=15 March 2014|website=Kiva Systems}} These challenges inspired Mountz to develop a method for picking, packing, and shipping orders using a system that could deliver any item to any operator at any time.

To achieve his vision, Mountz enlisted the help of Peter Wurman and Raffaello D'Andrea. In 2003, Mountz became the founder and CEO of Kiva Systems, through his partnership with co-founders Wurman and D'Andrea.

Traditionally, goods are moved around a distribution center using a conveyor system or by human-operated machines (such as forklifts). In Kiva's approach, items are stored in portable storage units. When an order is entered into the Kiva database system, the software locates the closest automated guided vehicle to the item and directs it to retrieve it. The mobile robots navigate around the warehouse by following a series of computerized bar-code stickers on the floor. Each drive unit has a sensor that prevents it from colliding with others. When the drive unit reaches the target location, it slides underneath the pod and lifts it off the ground through a corkscrew action. The robot then carries the pod to the specified human operator to pick up the items.{{Cite web|last=Giacaglia|first=Giuliano|date=2019-05-29|title=Robots in the Industry|url=https://medium.com/datadriveninvestor/robots-in-the-industry-9f69cfe52f40|access-date=2021-01-30|website=Medium|language=en}}

Kiva sold systems based on two different robot models. The smaller model was approximately {{convert|2|by|2.5|ft}}, {{convert|18|in}} high, and capable of lifting {{convert|1000|lbs}}. The larger model was capable of carrying a pallet with loads as heavy as {{convert|3000|lbs}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0316/040_bot_time_saves_nine.html|title=Bot-In-Time Delivery — Forbes.com | first=Christopher | last=Steiner|date=16 March 2009}} Both were a distinctive orange color. The maximum velocity of the robots was {{convert|1.3|m/s}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/robotics-software/three-engineers-hundreds-of-robots-one-warehouse|title=Three Engineers, Hundreds of Robots, One Warehouse — IEEE Spectrum|access-date=2009-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917221846/http://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/robotics-software/three-engineers-hundreds-of-robots-one-warehouse|archive-date=2016-09-17|url-status=dead}} The mobile bots were battery-powered and needed to be recharged every hour for five minutes.

The system is considered much more efficient and accurate than the traditional method of having human workers traveling around the warehouse locating and picking items. The robot also allows for the enhancement of Amazon cargo movement and aids in the ensurement of safety to both workers, staff, and the packages themselves.{{cite web|url=http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6635284.html|title=Warehousing and Distribution Centers: Zappos.com goes Space Age|access-date=2009-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219220349/http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6635284.html|archive-date=2009-02-19|url-status=dead}}

File:Amazon warehouse robot 2020.JPG

In March 2012, Amazon.com acquired Kiva Systems for US$775 million. At the time, this was Amazon's second-largest acquisition in its history.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/12/01/will-amazon-owned-robot-maker-sell-tailer-rivals/FON7bVNKvfzS2sHnBHzfLM/story.html|title=Will Amazon-owned robot maker sell to e-tailer's rivals? – The Boston Globe|work=BostonGlobe.com}}

Since the acquisition by Amazon, Kiva has remained quiet. The company has not announced any new Kiva customers and has stopped its marketing activities.{{cite web|url=http://www.scdigest.com/ontarget/14-03-31-1.php?cid=7944|title=Supply Chain News: Amazon will not Make Kiva Systems Available to General Market for at Least Two Years|website= Supply Chain Digest|date=March 31, 2014|author=SCDigest Editorial Staff}} Most of Kiva's sales staff have departed, though the company continues to hire in the engineering and manufacturing departments. Industry observers speculate that Amazon is focusing on internal operations and is not interested in sharing the technology with competitors.

In August 2015, the company officially changed its name from Kiva Systems LLC to Amazon Robotics LLC.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazonrobotics.com/#/|title=Amazon Robotics|url-status=dead|access-date=2015-08-06|archive-date=2016-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909231229/https://www.amazonrobotics.com/#/}}{{cite web | url=https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/27308-kiva-systems-to-be-renamed-amazon-robotics | title=Kiva Systems to be renamed Amazon Robotics |date=2015-04-26 |website=DC Velocity |first1=Ben |last1=Ames }}

As of June 2019, Amazon had more than 200,000 robots working in their warehouses.{{cite news|last1=Holley|first1=Peter|title=Amazon's one-day delivery service depends on the work of thousands of robots|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/06/07/amazons-one-day-delivery-service-depends-work-thousands-robots |date=June 7, 2019 |newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=29 October 2019|ref=Washington Post}} Amazon now (January 2020) has more than 200K robots (they call them "drives") in their warehouses.{{Cite web |date=2020-01-21 |title=Amazon now has 200,000 robots working in its warehouses |url=https://roboticsandautomationnews.com/2020/01/21/amazon-now-has-200000-robots-working-in-its-warehouses/28840/ |first1=David |last1=Edwards |website=Robotics & Automation News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-21 |title=Look back on 10 years of Amazon robotics |url=https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/operations/10-years-of-amazon-robotics-how-robots-help-sort-packages-move-product-and-improve-safety |website=About Amazon |language=en}} Cathie Wood in 2023 predicted that by 2030 Amazon warehouses will have more robots than people by adding about 1000 per day{{Cite web |last=Pound |first=Jesse |date=Feb 1, 2023 |title=Robots could surpass workers at Amazon by 2030, Cathie Wood says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/01/cathie-wood-amazon-may-have-more-robots-than-humans-by-2030.html |website=CNBC |language=en}} should have 1M total in 2024 (next year), instead of linear predicted 800K. Newest warehouses already have more robots than people.{{Cite web |last=DiStefano |first=Joseph N. |date=Oct 17, 2021 |title=Inside Amazon's largest warehouse — where you'll find more robots than people |url=https://www.inquirer.com/business/amazon-robots-delaware-largest-warehouse-fulfillment-20211017.html |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} Amazon Robotics introduced the robotic tech vest in 2019.{{cite news |title=Amazon-Mitarbeiter erhalten "Roboter-Schutzwesten" |url=https://www.derstandard.de/story/2000096757352/amazon-mitarbeiter-erhalten-roboter-schutzwesten |access-date=18 January 2024 |work=DER STANDARD |language=de-AT}}

In July 2022, Amazon unveiled its first ever autonomous mobile robot (AMR) Proteus.{{cite web|url=https://www.therobotreport.com/how-amazon-developed-precision-autonomy-for-proteus/ |first1= Brianna |last1=Wessling |website=The Robot Report |title=How Amazon developed precision autonomy for Proteus|date=August 31, 2022|access-date=September 7, 2022}}

• Automated retailing
• Automation
• Robotics
• Warehouse
• Logistics automation
• Amazon Scout

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.amazonrobotics.com/ Amazon Robotics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909231229/https://www.amazonrobotics.com/ |date=2016-09-09 }} official website
• [http://www.kivasystems.com/resources/demo/ Demonstration video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717101202/http://www.kivasystems.com/resources/demo/ |date=2015-07-17 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726142900/http://apparel.edgl.com/magazine/April-2011/Exclusive-From-Gilt-Groupe--Flash-Sales,-Flash-Delivery72044 Exclusive From Gilt Groupe: Flash Sales, Flash Delivery, Apparel Magazine]
• [https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/05/disruptive-by-design-freakin-cool-robots/ "Disruptive By Design: Freakin' Cool Robots", Wired Magazine]
• [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-15/toys-r-us-deploys-robots-as-retailers-seek-to-catch-amazon.html Toys 'R' Us Deploys Robots as Retailers Seek to Catch Amazon, Bloomberg.com]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090911111042/http://www.robotspodcast.com/podcast/2008/10/robots-warehouse-robots.html Robots: Warehouse Robots podcast]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090709151117/http://www.raffaello.name/Assets/Press/ModernMaterialsHandling.pdf Staples Robotic Retrievers] by Internet Archive

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Category:Robotics companies of the United States

Category:Warehouses

Category:Amazon (company) acquisitions