Medtronic today announced it appointed former Amazon executive Ken Washington as chief technology and innovation officer.

Robin uses artificial intelligence, computer vision and machine learning to help employees handle and sort customer packages before shipping.

Dataset of images collected in an industrial setting features more than 190,000 objects to train pick-and-place robots.

Amazon counteracts Astro’s lack of computation capabilities with algorithms and software designed to allow the robot to move more gracefully. 

Through internal R&D and external acquisitions, Amazon continues to be a leader in automating warehouse operations.

Amazon has unveiled Sparrow, a robotic arm capable of picking individual products before they get packaged.

Amazon already has more than half a million robots working in its fulfillment centers every day, and it’s looking to add more.

This week, we discuss the news of Amazon ending the use of delivery robots and talk to Viam CEO Eliot Horowitz about its new robotics platform beta.

During limited field testing, Amazon learned certain aspects of the program weren’t meeting customers’ needs.

Amazon said preliminary tests show a prototype pinch-grasping robot achieved a 10-fold reduction in damage on items such as books and boxes.

Amazon has used Cloostermans products, including robots to package products for customer orders, since 2019.

The FTC is investigating whether the data provided by Roomba gives Amazon an unfair advantage in the retail industry and how iRobot fits into Amazon’s existing consumer product portfolio.

John Enright, principal engineer at Amazon Robotics, explains how the company developed precision autonomy for its new Proteus autonomous mobile robot.

iRobot co-founder and CEO Colin Angle said iRobot’s stance on data privacy will not change when the acquisition by Amazon is finalized.

We discuss the Amazon / iRobot acquisition news and learn how DHL deploys robots in its North American warehouses.

Amazon has built a vast robotics ecosystem through acquisitions, investments, and internally developed products.

If this deal goes through, iRobot would be Amazon’s fourth most-expensive acquisition ever.

Proteus has a similar design to the Kiva robots, can pick up and move shelves, and safely work around humans.

Amazon said that later in 2022 customers in Lockeford, California can have certain items delivered to their homes via drone.

Listen to Steve and Mike interview Agility Robotics co-founder and CEO, Damion Shelton. They also discuss the new US Alliance of Robotics Clusters.

Robin picks packages from a conveyor belt, scans them and then places them on a drive robot that routes it to the correct loading dock.

The goal is to create an undergraduate curriculum that will lead to both advanced robotics degrees as well as robotics careers within industry.