Amazon is testing a new workstation system called “Ernie.” Ernie takes totes off of a robotic shelf and uses a robotic arm to deliver them to employees
According to a blog post by Amazon, the company is set to get robot employees to make the workplace safer. The e-commerce site has fulfillment centres throughout the globe. Currently, employees stow items onto mobile shelves as products move through the process of fulfilling customer orders. To potentially reduce the need for employees to reach up or bend down when retrieving items, Amazon is testing a new workstation system called “Ernie.”
Ernie takes totes off of a robotic shelf and uses a robotic arm to deliver them to employees, so they can remain in a more comfortable, stable, and ergonomically friendly position.
Kevin Keck, worldwide director of Advanced Technology, Amazon, said in the blog post, "We’re known for being passionate about innovating for customers, but being able to innovate with robotics for our employees is something that gives me an extra kick of motivation each day."
“The innovation with a robot-like Ernie is interesting because while it doesn’t make the process go any faster, we’re optimistic, based on our testing, it can make our facilities safer for employees,” added Keck in the blog post.
Ernie is not the first Robo employee at Amazon, The other ‘robot’ employee is Bert, one of Amazon’s first Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). AMRs like Bert, which is being tested to autonomously navigate through facilities with Amazon-developed advanced safety, perception, and navigation technology, claims Amazon.
“The role robotics and advanced technology can play in not only innovating for customers, but helping make our facilities safer, is a massive motivation for me and my team,” said Keck. “The health and safety of our employees is our number one priority,” he added.