Amazon testing robots that move like humans
Listen to the story (Filipino accent)
Amazon is testing humanoid robots in its US warehouses to automate more tasks. The company says that the robots will give workers more time to help customers better.
The robot they are testing is called Digit. It has arms and legs like a human and can move and handle items like a person.
A union that represents Amazon workers is worried that Amazon workers will be replaced by robots. Stuart Richards, an organizer at a union in the UK, said that Amazon has already cut hundreds of jobs in its warehouses because of automation.
However, Amazon says that its robotic systems have actually created “hundreds of thousands of new jobs” within the company. These new jobs include 700 different job types that didn't exist before.
According to Amazon, they currently have more than 750,000 robots working together with human staff. The robots usually do repetitive tasks.
Tye Brady, head of robotic technology at Amazon, says human workers are very important because they can think and solve problems.
The robot Digit moves on two legs and has arms to pick up and move packages and customer orders. Digit can even go up and down stairs. Amazon’s other robots all use wheels.
Amazon made clear that Digit is still a prototype. The company wants to test its safety with human employees.
Amazon has been using more robots to cut costs. They have also tried other automation technologies like drones for deliveries in some US states.
Vocabulary28 words
- Test
- to do something to learn if it is safe, works correctly, etc.; try out
- Humanoid
- Something that looks like a human or has human characteristics
- Warehouse
- a large building where products or goods are stored/kept;
- Automate
- to make a process or system operate/work automatically, using machines or computers instead of people
- Task
- A specific job or assignment; chore; work
- Handle
- to pick something up and touch, hold, or move it with your hands;
- Item
- a single object or thing; one piece; a product
- Union (trade union)
- an organization that workers join for protection and support
- Represent
- To act or speak for someone or something, to be a symbol or example of them
- Replace
- to take the place of; to substitute; to come after; to fill in; swap; exchange
- Organizer
- a person or group that organizes an event or meeting
- Cut
- to reduce the amount or number of something; to let go; to fire; to lay off
- Automation
- The use of machines to do work that was once done by people; when machines and robots do jobs without people
- Robotic system
- A group of machines that work together to do a job
- Create
- to make something new or original; produce
- Exist
- to be in the world; to be real
- According to
- as ‘someone’ said; as stated by ‘someone’; in the opinion of ‘someone’
- Currently
- happening right now; At the present time
- Human
- a person; a man, woman or child
- Staff
- The people who work for a company or organization
- Repetitive
- doing the same thing over and over again
- Head
- leader, top person, boss
- Solve
- to find an answer; to find an explanation; to create a way to fix a problem; answer; work out
- Order
- the food, drinks, or things you asked to buy
- Make clear
- To explain something in a way that is easy to understand
- Prototype
- example; the first version; the original which will be copied later;
- Drone
- an aircraft that does not have a pilot but is controlled by someone on the ground
- Delivery
- the act or process of bringing goods, letters, etc., to a place or person; transport
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Amazon is _____ humanoid robots in its US warehouses to automate more _____. The company says that the robots _____ give workers more time to help customers _____.
The _____ they are testing is called Digit. It has arms and legs _____ a human and can move and handle _____ like a person.
A union that represents Amazon _____ is worried that Amazon workers will be replaced _____ robots. Stuart Richards, an organizer at a _____ in the UK, said that Amazon has already cut _____ of jobs in its warehouses because of automation.
_____, Amazon says that its robotic systems have actually _____ “hundreds of thousands of new jobs” within the company. These new _____ include 700 different job types that didn't exist before.
_____ to Amazon, they currently have more than 750,000 robots working _____ with human staff. The robots usually do _____ tasks.
Tye Brady, head of robotic _____ at Amazon, says human workers are very important because they can _____ and solve problems.
The robot Digit _____ on two legs and has arms to pick up and move _____ and customer orders. Digit can even go up and down stairs. Amazon’s _____ robots all use wheels.
Amazon made _____ that Digit is still a prototype. The company wants to test its _____ with human employees.
Amazon has been _____ more robots to cut costs. They have also tried other automation _____ like drones for deliveries in some US _____.
Discussion questions
- Do you think using humanoid robots in warehouses is a good idea? Why or why not?
- Do you think robots will eventually replace all human workers in warehouses?
- Can you think of other jobs or industries where automation, like robots, could be helpful?
- In your opinion, are robots a good solution for repetitive tasks, or do you think humans should always perform these tasks?
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