Recently, Amazon introduced a new robotic system called Sparrow that uses computer vision and Artificial Intelligence to recognize and sort various unpacked objects. How does Sparrow work? Why is it a breakthrough? And what problems can it cause?
How does Sparrow work?
Sparrow identifies different objects, picks them up, and sorts them. On its robot arm, there is a custom gripper with several suction tubes that adjust to manage various items and firmly grip them. Thanks to machine learning and cameras, the robot recognizes around 65% of Amazon’s inventory objects and can even detect broken items and get rid of them.
Why is Sparrow a breakthrough?
Amazon has been working on automation for years and has created many robotic systems “to improve the customer and employee experience and create an even safer workplace.”
Amazon already uses robots that can identify and move boxes, but boxes are uniform in their shape and only differ in size. Before, only people could recognize and move unpacked items of different shapes, sizes, and textures. Sparrow, however, can change the game. For example, it can carry socks, cream tubes, bottles, and board games which are unlike objects.
Sparrow is still not ideal, as it works slower than people. We don’t know the exact speed of the robot, as, according to Wired, Tye Brady, chief technologist at Amazon Robotics, merely answered that Sparrow is “learning all the time.” But we don’t need the exact information to see that the machine is not that fast.
What problems can Sparrow cause?
The first assumption is that using more advanced robots can cause unemployment. It doesn’t look like it’s a problem, though. According to Statista, Amazon was increasing the number of working places every year despite implementing new machines and technologies. It is explained by the growth of the company. Tye Brady said: “We made our first serious investment in robotics over 10 years ago and in those 10 years we created more than a million jobs. The need for people to solve problems and use common sense will always be there.”
Amazon stated many times that new technologies will only benefit workers: “Working with our employees, Sparrow will take on repetitive tasks, enabling our employees to focus their time and energy on other things, while also advancing safety.” Data acquired by Reveal suggests otherwise, as the number of injuries among employees increases: “ The company has used the robots to ratchet up production quotas to the point that humans can’t keep up without hurting themselves.”
Work conditions in Amazon warehouses are unpleasant, to say the least. The Guardian reports that an average warehouse employee leaves their working place within eight months. So, it doesn’t look like using a new robot will solve problems with injuries and work conditions, but it is likely to intensify the work and put employees in more danger.
Sources:
https://www.wired.com/story/amazons-new-robot-sparrow-can-handle-most-items-in-the-everything-store/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/nov/11/amazon-robots-jobs
https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/future-of-warehouse-work/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/234488/number-of-amazon-employees/
Whoa. I’m amazed by the fact that Amazon was able to combine computer vision with artificial intelligence to create ‘Sparrow’. What’s even more surprising is that it can sort 65% of Amazon’s inventory, including broken objects as you mentioned. Although I agree that this robot will save the company money over the long run and also eliminate human error, by replacing employees assigned to this task will bring morale down across employees as they will start fearing for their job security. On the other hand, since the machine is not a 100% accurate and works slower than the employees, I believe it will be quite a while before employees have to look for another job, especially since Amazon keeps on expanding its business into new regions and establishes new workplaces in an already existing market etc as mentioned in your informative blog. But who knows? Nowadays, we hear about so many breakthroughs in technology and artificial intelligence that sooner or later, some employment areas are bound to be replaced purely by technology.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this blog and learning about this new robot ‘Sparrow’.
Amazon actually did not create this technology, they just decided to copy it and make their own robots, since they have the resources to do so. These AI robots use the ,,Pick-it-easy” method, that I believe was either developed or first used in warehouses by the company named KNAPP.
I believe that AI-incorporating automatization in warehouses is the future of every online shopping business. These robots are able to work 24h/7 unlike humans and they identify the items very effectively. Another thing is that this technology is constantly improving and every day, the robots are getting better and more efficient, because every single item they pick is a new opportunity to identify bugs and better the software. The good thing about technologies like this, is that it also, in contrary to what people say, creates more jobs than it takes away. For every robot like Sparrow, the company needs to hire engineers, warehouse remote and onsite operators, data analysts etc. People often say that AI will take our jobs away, but realistically, the technology would have to be 100% effective and work 100% on its own to truly replace humans. With all the mistakes it still makes, it gives us a million of opportunities to work with it and improve it.