Amazon Robotics deployed Vulcan, its first robot with a sense of touch, which uses physical AI and force-feedback sensors to pick and stow individual items in inventory pods at fulfillment centers. As of mid-2025, Vulcan is operational in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany, with plans to expand to more U.S. and German facilities in 2026.

Introduced at Amazon's 'Delivering the Future' event in Dortmund, Germany in May 2025, Vulcan uses an AI-powered sensor at the tip of its arm to detect the precise pressure and torque needed for each object. Its AI was trained on physical force and touch data—not just computer simulations—covering thousands of real-world examples. Vulcan can pick and stow approximately 75% of item types stored at fulfillment centers at speeds comparable to human workers. It targets the highest and lowest inventory pod rows, which previously required employees to use step ladders or crouch down, tasks Amazon describes as ergonomically difficult.