US technology company Amazon introduced its latest robotic system “Sparrow”, which aims to do repetitive warehouse jobs and boost product handling in its operations.
Sparrow is the first robotic system in the world’s biggest e-commerce company’s warehouses that can detect, select and handle individual products in its inventory without any major human intervention.
Amazon unveiled Sparrow before a select gathering of media at BOS27, the company’s innovation and manufacturing hub in Westborough, Massachusetts, on Thursday.
Leveraging computer vision and artificial intelligence, Sparrow can recognise and handle millions of items, the company said.
“We knew we had an opportunity to dig deeper into research and development to support individual product handling. We have millions of products of all shapes and sizes in our inventory, and we recognised the opportunity to invent new technology that could help handle them at Amazon’s scale,” it said.
Last year, with the support of various technologies, Amazon employees around the world picked, stowed or packed about five billion packages — or more than 13 million packages per day.
“Robotics technology enables us to work smarter, not harder, to operate efficiently and safely,” Amazon said.
Amazon’s other robotics arms, including Robin and Cardinal, can redirect packages in warehouses, but additional technology was needed to address a critical part of the fulfilment process that happens before items are even packaged for shipment to customers.
Working with employees, Sparrow will be able to take on highly repetitive tasks that will allow employees to shift their time and energy to higher-level and more engaging work while advancing safety, Amazon said.
“At the same time, Sparrow will help us drive efficiency by automating a critical part of our fulfilment process so we can continue to deliver for customers.”
Nearly three quarters of the five billion packages processed by Amazon annually are handled by robots in at least one part of the delivery process, the company said. The new robotic arm can identify about 65 per cent of Amazon’s product inventory.
Amazon is continuously investing to improve its robotics technology.
In September, the company announced acquiring Cloostermans, a Belgian firm that produces technology used in warehouses. In August, Amazon said it would buy iRobot — maker of the Roomba vacuum — for $1.65 billion, as the company continues to boost its presence into internet-connected home devices and robotics.
In 2012, it acquired Kiva Systems, which later evolved into Amazon Robotics, for $775 million.
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
The specs: 2018 Jaguar E-Pace First Edition
Price, base / as tested: Dh186,480 / Dh252,735
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 246hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 365Nm @ 1,200rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
HEY%20MERCEDES%2C%20WHAT%20CAN%20YOU%20DO%20FOR%20ME%3F
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MATCH INFO
Manchester United 6 (McTominay 2', 3'; Fernandes 20', 70' pen; Lindelof 37'; James 65')
Leeds United 2 (Cooper 41'; Dallas 73')
Man of the match: Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
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Pakistanis%20at%20the%20ILT20%20
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