Amazon reveals Blue Jay, a next-generation robotic system, and Project Eluna, an AI platform, as part of its push to transform fulfilment with faster development cycles, enhanced efficiency, and improved employee safety.
Amazon is advancing its fulfillment operations with two significant technological innovations designed to improve efficiency, safety, and employee experience across its distribution network. The company recently unveiled Blue Jay, a next-generation robo...
Continue Reading This Article
Enjoy this article as well as all of our content, including reports, news, tips and more.
By registering or signing into your SRM Today account, you agree to SRM Today's Terms of Use and consent to the processing of your personal information as described in our Privacy Policy.
tic system, and Project Eluna, an agentic AI model, both currently in pilot phases at selected U.S. facilities.
Blue Jay represents a transformative step in warehouse robotics by combining three distinct tasks—picking, stowing, and consolidating—into one integrated robot. This system coordinates multiple robotic arms simultaneously, effectively collapsing what traditionally required three separate robotic stations into a consolidated workspace. This innovation not only enhances operational efficiency but also reduces the physical footprint needed on the warehouse floor. According to Amazon, Blue Jay is capable of handling approximately 75% of the diverse items stored at its sites, exemplifying its versatility.
Remarkably, the development cycle for Blue Jay was compressed to just over one year, a stark contrast to the three or more years taken to bring earlier models such as Robin, Cardinal, or Sparrow into production. This acceleration was achieved through the advanced application of artificial intelligence and the use of digital twins—virtual simulations that allowed engineers to test and iterate on dozens of prototypes using realistic physics models before building physical versions. This approach condensed what was once years of trial-and-error experimentation into mere months, enabling Amazon to scale and refine robotic capabilities more rapidly.
Blue Jay is currently being tested at a major fulfillment centre in South Carolina, where it supports front-line employees by alleviating them from repetitive, physically demanding tasks like item stowing. This shift empowers workers to engage in higher-value activities such as quality control and problem-solving, fostering safer, smarter, and more rewarding work environments. The system is expected to roll out more widely across Amazon’s network, which encompasses over 300 facilities globally and recently celebrated the deployment of its 1 millionth robot at a Japanese centre.
Complementing Blue Jay’s physical automation is Project Eluna, a sophisticated agentic AI platform designed to enhance operational decision-making within fulfillment centres. Unlike traditional systems that require operators to monitor numerous dashboards, Project Eluna provides insights using natural language processing, enabling managers to query the system directly—for instance, asking where workforce shifts should occur to avoid bottlenecks. By aggregating and analysing real-time and historical data from across the facility, it anticipates operational challenges and recommends proactive measures.
Currently being piloted at a Tennessee facility to prepare for the holiday shopping period, Project Eluna initially focuses on optimizing sortation processes. Over time, it is planned to support preventive safety measures, including ergonomic employee rotation scheduling and maintenance planning, further promoting workplace wellbeing. Operators benefit from the system’s intelligent foresight, allowing them to spend less time firefighting operational issues and more time coaching teams and enhancing productivity.
Both Blue Jay and Project Eluna are part of Amazon’s broader strategy to integrate advanced robotics and AI into its fulfillment ecosystem, aiming to create safer, more efficient, and scalable operations. By reducing physical strain on workers and enabling more intelligent, data-driven decision-making, these technologies underscore Amazon’s commitment to evolving the frontline employee experience while accelerating delivery speeds for customers worldwide.
As Amazon continues to innovate, these developments signal a significant shift in the future of warehouse automation—melding the strengths of AI and robotics to streamline complex logistics challenges and enhance global supply chain resilience.
Source: Noah Wire Services
