Robotic Distribution
WIRED0 HN recommenders · 2012–2014
229K views · news · dated · Uploaded 2009-01-28
A short 2009 WIRED clip showing Kiva Systems robots moving inventory shelves in a warehouse serving online retailer Zappos. It shows how mobile robots bring goods to pickers instead of people walking the aisles.
HN commenters link it as a concrete picture of Kiva-style robotic warehouses whenever threads discuss warehouse automation and same-day delivery.
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5 comments from Hacker News
>I would be curious about the energy needs per unit, though. An 180 lb person speed walking at 5 mph burns 650 Calories/hr. That's 80¢/shift in electricity. But that's not the big savings. Humans need lights and air-conditioning – robots don't. [VIDEO]
Sounds like Amazon is telegraphing its intentions for increasing automation in warehouses, a la Zappos. [VIDEO]
Self-driving cars + robot arm + bufferbox = extremely cheap, fully automated delivery service. Add a robotic distribution center [VIDEO] and you have an automated Amazon competitor. If, on top of that, Google turns your Google account into a bank account, you'll be able to buy literally with one click. Google's dominance in mobile with Android will ensure that everyone has a Google bank account through which you can make most of your purchases. If you're a manufacturer, Google will take care of all your advertising for free, just so long as you give them a tiny cut of each sale. Google will be a trillion dollars company.
KIVA Systems' robots ( [LINK] ) revolutionized warehouse automation. Zappos was using KIVA when Amazon acquired Zappos, and then Amazon acquired KIVA for $775 million. See "Autonomous Robots Invade Retail Warehouses" ( [LINK] ) KIVA @ Zappos: [VIDEO] I doubt Amazon is going to permit a contract between KIVA and Google so it will be interesting to see Google's innovations in this space.
Have you heard of/seen Kiva robots? If the floor could just blink to the robot, that would be pretty cool! Especially if Li-Fi is cheaper / higher throughput. [VIDEO]