Amazon operates many robots in its warehouses, but not every robotic venture has been successful. The company recently stopped its Blue Jay warehouse robotics project, a move first reported by Business Insider and confirmed by TechCrunch. Blue Jay, a multi-armed robot for sorting and moving packages, was introduced in October for same-day delivery sites. Initially tested in South Carolina, it was developed in about a year, spotlighting advancements in AI.
An Amazon spokesperson, Terrence Clark, clarified that Blue Jay was a prototype, which wasn’t specified in the initial announcement. Amazon plans to apply Blue Jay’s core technology to other robotic projects, redistributing team members to new assignments. Clark stated the company continues to seek innovations enhancing customer experience and workplace efficiency. Blue Jay’s technology will still support Amazon’s network.
Last year, Amazon also introduced the Vulcan robot, deployed in warehouse storage areas. Vulcan features two arms, one for rearranging items and another with a camera and suction cups for handling goods. The robot’s touch sensitivity is based on real-world data training.
Amazon’s robotics journey began in 2012 with the acquisition of Kiva Systems, with its technology becoming central to fulfillment operations. The company surpassed one million robots in its warehouses as of last July.