Strategy: Amazon relies on the logistics innovation laboratory – digital, trends, science and research | New

Online giant Amazon has launched an innovation lab for logistics applications in Vercelli, northern Italy. As the e-commerce provider announced in a May 20 press release, the lab’s primary focus is on technologies that will ease the physical strain on logistics center workers.

New assistive technologies include:

• Article sorting systems: A fully automated sorting system for individual items relaxes the muscles as employees no longer have to search for items in boxes.
• Pallet racking: A large, completely separate robotic arm eliminates the need for forklifts to lift pallets and automatically move containers from one location to another.
• The device: A machine that lifts containers and places them automatically on conveyor belts.
• Cars and automated guided vehicles: Assistance robots – similar to transport robots – which move around the site automatically and move objects towards people. They need to reduce unnecessary steps and employees don’t have to push and pull carts and containers. According to Amazon, these robots have sensors and follow pre-programmed routes to avoid collisions with people or machines.
• RobotRobotic arms that relieve employees of repetitive tasks like lifting, stacking, and rotating, so they can focus on more diverse tasks that robots can’t.

According to Amazon, AVs are already in use in Italy and will also be deployed in Poland and the UK; Hoists will be used in the future in Poland and Great Britain; Basic product sorting systems and pallet robots are used in Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland and Great Britain; Sorting robots are used in Italy, Spain and Germany. Sorting robots will be introduced in Poland, France and the UK later this year.

Training on new applications

As new technologies are also being introduced in other countries and locations, Amazon says it will provide training to all employees if these new innovations are to be implemented.

“We work closely with health and safety professionals and scientists, perform thousands of safety inspections in our buildings every day, and have made hundreds of changes based on employee feedback. With new technology introduced and staff trained, constant feedback helps us improve and improve. Take the lead when it comes to developing the right technology for their field, ”says Stefano La Rovere, head of advanced technologies at Amazon Europe, who heads the scientists and engineers at the lab.