Amazon Unveils Proteus – Fully Autonomous Voice-Controlled Robot
Credit: Amazon
Amazon has over a million robots working in warehouses, but until now, none of them supported voice control. This feature was added only to the new version of the Proteus robot, which responds to natural-sounding voice commands. “You tell it what to do. It determines the priority, the route, and the timing,” said Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics.
The Proteus robot was created as part of a €10 billion ($11.6 billion) investment program to expand the company’s European logistics network. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant will use it to speed up deliveries.
The new version, which will be available in Europe in the first half of 2027, is capable of working in warehouses and marks a shift in how workers interact with robots.
Amazon also showcased STARK, a robotic container handling system first tested in Barcelona and planned to be deployed at 15 European facilities by 2027, as well as Vulcan, its first robot that senses touch.
Amazon said it will launch more than 25 “near-same-day” delivery locations across Europe this year, particularly in the UK and Germany. Amazon Now, its ultra-fast delivery service for essential goods, will expand to Manchester and Birmingham in the UK.
Such systems improve safety and reduce monotony. But the company has no plans to lay off workers because of this—in Europe alone, Amazon plans to expand its warehouse workforce by 25,000 positions.
