Amazon is introducing an advanced robotics system called Sequoia into its warehouses to enhance delivery times, safety, and overall efficiency. This AI-powered technology is expected to boost the speed of locating and storing products by up to 75% and improve order fulfillment rates by up to 25%. Currently, Sequoia is operational in one of Amazon's warehouses in Houston.
Sequoia utilizes vehicles to transport product totes to a sorting machine. With the aid of robotic arms and computer vision, it identifies inventory and sends it to employees for delivery. Notably, this system positions items at waist level, reducing the need for employees to reach high shelves, which is a significant safety improvement. Sequoia builds on the 2022 introduction of Sparrow, an AI-driven robotic arm designed to identify and handle remaining products after sorting.
While Amazon emphasizes safety with the implementation of Sequoia and Sparrow, its safety record has faced scrutiny. A report from the Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that between 2016 and 2019, workers in Amazon's automated warehouses experienced injuries at twice the rate of those in non-automated settings. Additionally, the use of robots increased the scanning workload for employees from 100 to as many as 400 items per hour. It remains uncertain whether the rollout of Sequoia will result in layoffs.