Amazon has introduced a new robot called Sparrow which will help them overcome their worker shortage and take on a new role in warehouses - bin picking. Previously robots could only move bins around, and Amazon relied on humans to pick them.

> The system — as with its predecessors is an off-the-shelf Fanuc system customized with Amazon hardware and software. The former is a hydraulic-based suction system capable of lifting objects at a variety of weights.

> The latter utilizes sensors to identify the items based on a variety of different inputs, including size, shape and bar codes. An Amazon spokesperson claims the system is able to identify around 65% of the company’s entire product inventory.

Here is a gif of it in action.