Proteus

Two low to the ground green mobile robots carry blue multi-level shelving units through a warehouse. — I'll get that for you! Photo: Amazon

Proteus is an autonomous mobile robot that can pick up, transport, and drop off containers in Amazon fulfillment facilities. The robot is designed to safely operate in spaces shared by human workers, and it uses light, sound, and even physical movement to help people nearby understand its state and intent.

Creator

Amazon Robotics

Year

2022

Country

United States 🇺🇸

Categories

Industrial

Features

Did you know?

Proteus is named for one of the moons of Neptune.

A green mobile robot carries a tall blue wheeled shelf. — 520,000 drive unit robots work in Amazon warehouses. Photo: Amazon

History

In 2012, Amazon acquired a robotics company called Kiva, which had pioneered fleets of warehouse robots, called drive units. Fast forward 10 years, and now Amazon has more than 520,000 robotic drive units. Also in 2022, the company unveiled Proteus, a fully autonomous mobile robot designed to be safely incorporated in the same physical space where Amazon employees work. Proteus moves through warehouses completely on its own using advanced safety, perception, and navigation capabilities.

A green mobile robot on the floor of a warehouse. — These robots can safely navigate spaces where humans also work. Photo: Amazon

Specs

Overview: Safety-aware path planning to anticipate and avoid obstacles in the path. Dynamically modifies operating speed based on payload mass and proximity to potential obstacles. The Proteus robot is just one part of the overall Proteus system; in addition to the mobile robot, the system includes custom charging stations, automated diagnostic equipment, a fleet management software stack developed specifically for autonomous mobile robot (AMR) fleets, and a range of customized services that integrate with Amazon's warehouse management systems. Compliant with industrial mobile robot safety standard R15.08.
Status: Ongoing
Year: 2022
Website: amazon.jobs/en/teams/amazon-robotics
Height: 18 cm
Sensors: Vision system with cameras and high-precision lidar for perception and navigation, including maneuvering underneath carts and reading fiducials on the ground. Upward and downward-facing cameras to read barcodes. Other collision-avoidance sensors.
Actuators: Motors to drive wheels and power lifting mechanism.
Compute: On-board computer and control boards. Colored lights and LED "eyes" for human-robot interaction.
Software: Custom robot control system. Integrated with fleet management software stack and Amazon's warehouse management systems.