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robotics/news//Inc. Magazine
Blue Jay was developed in just over a year, far faster than the three-to-four-year timelines behind earlier Amazon robots like Robin and Sparrow.
Amazon discontinued its Blue Jay robot project due to high costs and manufacturing complexity.
KEY POINTS
Blue Jay combined three separate robotic stations into one, aiming to accelerate same-day delivery.
The robot was piloted at a South Carolina fulfillment center but never reached full deployment.
Amazon plans to reuse Blue Jay's technology in new projects, including the Flex Cell floor robot.
This discontinuation signals a broader shift in Amazon’s overall warehouse automation strategy.
The system was developed in just over a year, far faster than the three-to-four-year timelines behind earlier Amazon robots like Robin and Sparrow. Amazon positioned Blue Jay as a major step toward faster same-day delivery, combining what had previously been three separate robotic stations into a single workstation capable of picking, sorting, and consolidating items in one place.
Mounted overhead on a conveyor-style track, Blue Jay used multiple robotic arms equipped with suction grippers to handle items of different shapes and sizes, while also assisting frontline workers with reaching and lifting tasks.
“Our latest innovations are great examples of how we’re using AI and robotics to create an even better experience for our employees and customers,” Amazon Robotics chief technologist Tye Brady said in a statement when the robot debuted, describing it as technology meant to make work “safer, smarter, and more rewarding.”
The company piloted Blue Jay at a South Carolina fulfillment center and called it a “core technology” for lowering costs while accelerating delivery speeds. But internally, the robot struggled. High costs, manufacturing complexity, and implementation challenges ultimately led to the project’s shutdown, according to people familiar with the decision who spoke to Business Insider.
Employees who worked on Blue Jay have since been reassigned to other robotics initiatives. While the system itself is being discontinued, Amazon plans to reuse elements of the technology in future projects, including a new floor-mounted robot known as Flex Cell, Business Insider reported.
The robot’s discontinuation reflects a broader shift in Amazon’s warehouse strategy.