Inside Alibaba's smart warehouse staffed by robots

Take a look inside Alibaba's smart warehouse where robots do 70% of the work.
They can carry up to 500 kilograms above them around the warehouse floor.
They have special sensors to avoid colliding into each other and they can be summoned using wifi.
When they run out of battery, they can take themselves to a charging station. A five minute charge can power them for 4/5 hours.
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Business Insider UK is the largest business news site for British readers and viewers in the UK. Our mission: to tell you all you need to know about the big world around you. The BI UK Video team focuses on business, technology, strategy, and culture with an emphasis on unique storytelling and data that appeals to the next generation of leaders.

[@dakshj9878]

Imagine walking through one of the aisles and seeing a fkn storage column coming at you at full speed

[@xihangyang]

those thing would stop for you and take other route.

[@raahimirfan5996]

They must be having ultrasonic sensors...

[@maskitmati]

HAHAHA

[@yvesgomez]

And then everything is blocked at the custom office (from Europe).

[@leanture3685]

only if its above 22euor! Jsut ask Alibab to declare your packed at 20dollars then it wont be blocked!

[@KandiKlover]

@@leanture3685 yeah most chinese sellers lie and say its $1 gift automatically. Use Dealxtreme instead, alibaba is all scam and mostly fake shit waste of time. Website looks like shit too.

[@m.d.m.a.]

@@user-mk000 Dude, he meant europe, not china.

[@jasons7044]

Those shelve units are not light..... look at the precision in the turning and the movement...awesome

[@ronsmith169]

Excellent innovation from the world's largest e-commerce co. Sourgrapes will continue to be sour, no matter how often you excel above them.

[@HugoCostelha]

Could you be more technical in what innovation was brought here in this case, in comparison with other implementations? And what "sourgrapes" have to do with the application of autonomous robots in warehouse automation?!

[@AndrewManook]

We have a sourgrapes here as well ^^

[@OlSkunGun]

Now I know why I didn't get a deal at a warehouse. Damn robot took my place umm

[@silentwatcher1455]

As customer of alibaba, am pleased that products are handled,stored,managed efficiently and properly. That means less worry and less confusion for customers.

[@endlessroadie3131]

And less jobs. Greating a need for a basic income which will increase taxes which lowers a need for Alibaba shit because people cant afford it no more.

[@Fed-Dog]

Only a communist troll is still buying anything from China.

[@halleluja200]

OK the future is here now we need basic income

[@yqisq6966]

And rethink about communism and its promises :P

[@allabouthegreen8586]

Every company you adore will compete year after year wanting a bigger chunk of your universal basic income. Terrible idea

[@Become_A_Paid_Electronics_Tech]

""uncle Owen, this one has a bad motivator! "

[@sooprcoomr4828]

Those who talk about "fully automated" definitely didn't watch the video. Same thing as Amazon, but painted in blue.

[@ActualGenius]

于家睿 Right? JD has full automation kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHe5aXyhjppln7s

[@smohkth4t167]

I call full automation. Human replacement. Which means people are unemployed. Families go without much needed income and the job market has thousands more people looking for work. Really these sort of videos should worry everyone and don't think you're somehow above it affecting you. Robots can do anything a human can do. ANYTHING.

[@cise4832]

Old jobs will be lost and new jobs will be created. We've been through this sort of changes throughout history.

[@SSToor]

Thus freeing up human time to do more meaningful tasks that generate more value, perhaps more wealth, people will be way richer (as per average person) in the future.

[@monggi9186]

Looks like KIVA robot to me.

[@Wingman4l7]

Mong Gi It probably is cloned from those, yes -- I doubt they came up with it themselves.

[@ww-pw6di]

@@Wingman4l7 KIVA is a clone as well

[@truehappiness4U]

Wingman4l7 you are underestimating Chinese technology. But of course USA claims they are better than anybody else. at this moment, China’s schools have tech to detect wether a child is focusing or not. And much more tech but you have to watch documentaries for it,

[@jpryan9219]

Funny thing, on one side you have people complaining about lost jobs, on the other hand you have reports of how bad working conditions at for example Zalando are, where people have to walk dozens of miles a day to fetch goods for packing (and for a low wage of course).

[@explosivemodesonicmauricet1597]

And I am sure that the job mentioned in the video is going to be one of the least liked jobs.

[@MrGilRoland]

1:03 Robot1: “Can you do this?” Robot2: “Pfff, I have work to do”. Robot3: “Yeah, me too. AI is cancer”.

[@99Gara99]

Who did it first, amazon or alibaba? They use the same exact robtos, just changing colors

[@designpqp5992]

isnt this originally amazon's tech for there automated warehouse?

[@cks2020693]

It's not Amazon's tech but I think Amazon came up with the idea first but they never really put it in to practice like Alibaba did, I would think it's probably pressured by the us government because imagine how many people would lose jobs

[@JigilJigil]

Yes, they have copied Amzon to its bones., and amazon has been using this technology all over its warehouses for years now.

[@rontravelt1614]

It would be interesting to know how much you have to pay for one robot (for buying it and per hour while using it).

[@elrvengador]

They're pretty expensive but they buy you time, that means more sales

[@thomasunterseher8981]

Credit where credit is due: This is "borrowed" technology from Kiva Systems, a US company that was purchased by Amazon!

[@AlexMkd1984]

usa tech is made in china amazon is garbage they dont havs tech like china you dimb trash

[@SuperChelliah]

How many people lost their job?

[@TheOrleanian136]

They'll have more time on their hands to find a better one.

[@InvestAndGrow2020]

70%

[@alexanderchristopher6237]

If you want more jobs, tell people to dig a tunnel through a mountain with spoons. That'll keep 100-200 people busy for the next 10 years.

[@rdcarbonk1885]

This kind of job is usually part time and very physical anyway i know from experience. The aim of technology is to replace most straining jobs with more intellectual ones.

[@Janaale]

This flex is another level

[@cicili628]

Funny no one said any robot replace human under amazon’s robot video. People should do more technical job then carry boxes all day. That’s why the technology is so important. If you can’t keep up with the new generation you eliminate by the “nature”.

[@TheKasimkage]

They receive their instructions via wi-fi? Imagine if they had my crummy router!

[@abdeali53]

The song is stuck in my head, name please?

[@kingkongga]

"manned by robots"

[@FamishedYoshi]

I wonder what the terminology would be, robotted by robots?

[@niubilities]

Lots of unused vertical space if you ask me, kind of inefficient.

[@KandiKlover]

Nope. Dumbass loser, no one will ever ask your sorry ass.

[@abdeldjalilazeddine9090]

The background music please ?

[@BlueSquad00]

5 minutes charge last 4 hours? How?

[@nicholasr3624]

This is nothing new....amazon have been doing this for years.....

[@ramkarthik1566]

The world looks for changes, be ready ever.

[@pedrohack2869]

People in these comments don't understand basic economics...

[@bobyca2003]

its time that more persons to know what is a sensor and a stepper motor ... is not normal that about 90% of population not know what is atmega328 ... the most popular microcontroller that was sell in about 10 bilions exemplars ... is not normal that at school learn about history,geography, ecc ... but not learn anything about sensor,stepper motors and the most popular microcontroler...

[@Skybar23]

i thought Walmart was the biggest retailer in the world

[@joshuabearce1077]

We have these at my place of work, nothing new. Apparently they've been around since the 80s.

[@flipsgraf1335]

Wifi was invented in the 90s sooo no.

[@joshuabearce1077]

Sorry didn't watch whole video, these AGVs use wifi? The ones at my place don't, they use lazers and relays placed into the ground to guide them.

[@MrPraveenGeorge]

Looks like copies of Amazon's warehouse robot

[@KandiKlover]

Amazon is shit.

[@hullopillow4853]

More like Amazon copied Alibaba.

[@mocuishle3519]

This level of commercial ideas have no character of copying or not. It’s like the idea of automobiles and sweeping robot. You should focus on which one’s detailed design works better.

[@internetandlifehacks]

Quite impressive!

[@MrUltracoin]

Can I summon it with an app to a specific location?

[@redarX]

Oh thats why my mom dad said once that robots would take your daily jobs

[@razaurrehman9530]

Printf(when crashing, don't) Ps I'm not a programmer don't judge

[@utorque]

if(robot.isCrashed()) { robot.undo(); printf("don't"); }

[@satan3090]

Its a giant roomba

[@endlessroadie3131]

A roomba cleans dirt. These things clean jobs.

[@Khalirei]

Looks amazing, but I wonder if they also have a bot that cleans up the aisles, the floor looks dusty.

[@danpaladin_lovesyou]

your butt looks dusty and needs a smack to clear it off

[@21fnasser]

Amazon who? AliBaba+Tron forever

[@badtry007]

2 min video from 15 seconds of video material :P

[@saharsalehi8070]

Truly impressed me. Wow

[@srikanths7873]

right u r

[@momoes4854]

Impressive but replacing humans. It is not good long term for everyone rich or poor.

[@Gamerz00760]

Might be replaced by robots...but if your pulling items by hand and walking/running everywhere and expected to hit 100 items an hour we're all better off with robots as it is. Stress levels run high trying to get everything pulled in some warehouses...and without temperature control it can take a toll on your health.

[@endlessroadie3131]

Maybe for you. Other people did manage it but lost their job anyway because of this crap. Warehouse jobs are the best low level jobs you can have early in life. Sounds like you just couldn't handle the stress.

[@caragramgoogleweb3.023]

Excellent

[@dennis5041]

Song Name ?

[@이명후-v7v]

it may cut the jobs but it may come over to new jobs with lower price for deflation to safety but you might be think other way that another robotic neew to come over future that returns of profit and capitals

[@J.D.Vision]

Funny... 😳They look like Amazon Robots.

[@zekeo6163]

J.D. Vision where do you think the amazon ones come from. High quality electronics made in Shenzhen

[@AlexMkd1984]

ametican have china tech they dont have tech dumbfuck

[@JigilJigil]

It's called the Chinese way, copy everything.

[@daveedovsky]

Impressive

[@staceyarmstrong8257]

This is crazy

[@shawnlim1194]

Were supposed to recreate a smaller version of this for our Computer class exam. Im absolutely fucked

[@PineappledoesnotbelongonPizza2]

You will succeed.

[@HugoCostelha]

These robots and the associated logistics looks extremely similar to the KIVA solutions, bought years ago by Amazon. Is it a "copy", or is there any relation with the Amazon work?

[@ronsmith169]

LOL the stereotype. similar doesn't imply "copying". if this is "copying", every robotic assembly line is considered "copy" of others, from japan, germany, to ...yep, including the sourgrape yanks.

[@HugoCostelha]

You didn't understand... I was wondering if this was a work done in partnership with Kiva (now part of Amazon), since the robots exterior design in terms of size, sensors and actuators, and way of working are indeed pretty much identical (just by seeing the video). If that is not the case, I was wondering what was new in this video compared with what we have seen in older videos (years) from other implementations, particularly from Kiva! Note that I am not saying that what was done here was easy, or anything like it. That is not my point.

[@silentwatcher1455]

Hugo Costelha this robot system shown here, shows how it handles the products in the warehouse. Its not intended to sell robot system nor does it claim they invented it. The video wants to assure alibaba customers that products they ordered are stored in efficient and organize way. An airline trying to show its interior of its passenger plane equipped with led TV and reclining bed doesn't claim they invented it. Instead the airline wants to assure you that if you buy business class you will get that kind of service. Any great products nowadays are for sale to whoever has the money. Its waste of time,efforts,knowledge and money if an invention can only land in museum and can not be sold to anybody for cash. If you love receiving awards, you can have your awards to yourself. Nobody will be interested in you.

[@wul51]

Hi, Hugo. I feel sad that nobody understood your comments and argued with you. I found an article:zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/28305513, but it is in Chinese. You may need to use google translate. This product was indeed inspired by KIVA.

[@gamba4605]

Yes its inspired by KIVA system so the way it works and technicalities. So then China wont need to import the system from KIVA but using their home-Grown robotic products. There are two Robotic material handling companies work with Alibaba in Geek+ and Quicktron technology.

[@nithinkb93]

70 percent labour reduced omg. One day there will be no job. Only robots and AI

[@sulemanhassanali]

That doesn't mean overall jobs have been reduced, there is always shift to other industries, e.g. these robots making, maintaining, their spares, software side, many companies would be running for such systems creating jobs in those industries!

[@mobeyond]

500kg , human flesh can’t complete

[@saeedbasabain4188]

nice

[@larstinderholt7438]

Human labour reduced by 70%. Tragic.

[@unboxingtheboxx]

We are gonne losse our jobs🤔

[@anonymousextempore8659]

We will get bettr jobs infact

[@YuanweiLao]

Copied from kiva now amazon

[@bradwilliams2494]

The future.... More robotics, less jobs, more unemployment, higher taxes for the elite and greedy, less taxable incomes, less real estate investment, resecions = a better tomorrow for future generations to inherit. 😂

[@adamtrudeau5606]

They turk er jurb!!

[@csmith9684]

We didn't listen!~ Day Took R jobs! ~We din't Listen ~ Daye Tauok ur Jubs! Haha could do that all day!

[@독연-x7f]

지진 한번 나면 재미있겠네 ㅋㅋ

[@franciscoreis3067]

it`s very well

[@remydeen3943]

wow machine worker

[@nabilariff9601]

Yeah im already seeing this as a dark future cuz the machines doing what humans do

[@gababad3252]

Too sad.. this great machine was created for Amazon years ago and they are using it until now.... and damn this.. now you will see a second rate chinese company using it.. tsk tsk. What a copy cat just because of a big market. Next time be proud if you invented this machine.

[@Misterz3r0]

Did they steal this from Amazon? Because Amazon bought the company that developed this system.

[@JigilJigil]

Yes.

[@tonybaines3332]

then they give it to china post that takes 7 weeks to deliver.

[@Jeff-fz2nh]

Tony Baines People get online shopping delivered same day next day as the norm in China. Get real!

[@tonybaines3332]

ime not in china

[@tfylhk]

Are you kidding?

[@bellawu3011]

Nah that sounds like America's post delivering services

[@eirin099]

i hope you realise the shipping you choose which is either extremely cheap or free is basically just them throwing it in a random container on a ship that only goes to your general destination on a non daily basis.

[@fantasyteamshorts6112]

Who is feeding the family of the 70% human labour that was saved?

[@user-mk000]

Trump

[@l.apocasangre620]

Thank God,I don't have to work anymore...

[@irkiIIer]

welcome to the duality

[@hardrock342]

Is this the so called 'alibaba intelligence'?

[@o_o-d6v]

And the intetnational shipping fee is being charged to America. Even not to America.

[@agussururi1195]

uts better than... amazon

[@ThebigGLRams]

Automated machines are causing job losses

[@theone4260]

People have been saying that for a hundred years.

[@ibrahimofficial9539]

My job has been taken by a robot am extremely concerned about the this.

[@PartyALLNighTCrew]

I recently met someone named Ibrahim who worked at a warehouse. LOL!

[@ibrahimofficial9539]

@@PartyALLNighTCrew A dog and an idiot.

[@jaydenmiskin3614]

These are at amazon

[@maelgouzou-neelastitch2380]

0:46

[@darioildiario3001]

#Unemployement

[@muhammadnoor9108]

Wow!!

[@0tayaya]

one of the issue people never think is ....maintenance....maintenance of a robot is higher then maintenace of a human, human get sick days, robot get broken repair cost company money, human recover automatically normally. overall, the cost of robot maintenance is higher than human. i have viisted warehouse that try to be totally automatic and machine break easily so operation stop time from time varies hours to whole day to even a week.

[@yqisq6966]

"Overall, the cost of robot maintenance is higher than human" depends on the task.

[@mayonnaise5585]

Alibaba Intelligence

[@MrKernkraft4000]

Human labor reduced by 70%

[@PartyALLNighTCrew]

The other side: "The bots have increased output threefold (3X)".

[@agustinlopezguerrero1651]

Pues a prepararse rafa

[@satriaamiluhur622]

How to stretch 30 seconds worth of content into a 2 minute video

[@APAstronaut333]

No

[@mrustham1970]

I heard alibaba don't own any warehouse

[@chifandeyu7370]

MUHAMMED RUSTHAM You can can check out “菜鸟物流”

[@mrustham1970]

@@chifandeyu7370 please comment in english i don't know chinese...(indian by the way).

[@chifandeyu7370]

@@mrustham1970 Cainiao Network Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2013 by Alibaba, United Yintai Commerce, Fosun Group, Fuchun Group, Shunfeng, Shentong, Yuantong, Zhongtong, Yunda, etc. And related financial institutions jointly announced the launch of the "China Intelligent Logistics backbone Network" (CSN) project, cooperation parties jointly set up. An innovative enterprise based on Internet thinking, Internet technology and judging the future, hoping to create a logistics data company with demonstration effect.Company slogan 24 hours delivery, logistics platform. www.cainiao.com/

[@Firestarthe]

wow amazing how corporate espionage can be so successful. nice copy of an amazon warehouse.

[@kevinmas19]

Alibaba copying Amazon

[@smohkth4t167]

Won't be long and humans won't be necessary

[@EdwardBeech]

fuck yeah, that's the stuff

[@SuperMartinpeter]

Yes it is good to give the goods at low prices. The people can purchase these goods at low prices only if they have the power to purchase. The power to purchase comes from their work....that means they have purchase power only if they earn money from their salary........if all these capitalist use robots and make the people job less how the people will purchase your products.......dear capitalist you people are dear........think how can you help the people in a better way not from the top but from the bottom......thank you

[@alexanderchristopher6237]

If you want more jobs, tell people to dig a tunnel through a mountain with spoons. That'll keep 100-200 people busy for the next 10 years.

[@zhongvince9210]

Aww cute robots lol

[@funnymansam16]

yet it takes 6monts to deliver

[@VDM32]

This is fucked up many people can be doing this job feeding their families but the devil is letting Ai take over our world

[@ouologuemseydou6673]

Jack ma your dreams are became true

[@alan-zl7ee]

The world and U.S. is so screwed damn U.B.I makes sense now!!!! 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️👎👎👎

[@ronaldramboanga7955]

The power of innovation! In Fulfillmen, we keep on upscaling warehousing technology to ensure there would be no room for any mistake and to secure that all of the logistics remain protected and unblemished. We offer warehousing solutions that cater all big brands to small e-commerce companies. Visit www.Fulfillmen.com

[@Lululemon2023]

Oh, these robots are for civilian use, not like those made by Boston dynamics they are for military use. Like gun powder, China use it for celebration others use it for wars.

[@alexanderchristopher6237]

Robots for war? Best. Idea. Ever. You don't need to have young boys and girls die in some foreign country. You can have drones fight your wars.

[@rachelsmith8696]

whe strong market. aperture no problem promise . e-comerce

[@richmind5867]

There goes jobs lol

[@josephbennett3482]

It sure beats whiny employees that complain about their job and that don't want to actually do the job they applied for. With retriever robots warehouses don't need to worry about the lack of employees to do the work all they need is a group of people to pull the product from the shelf and package it up.

[@miguelsantander6412]

El ser humano cada vez es menos necesario.

[@4HM92]

Replacing hardworking men with robots..

[@momoes4854]

Sad isn't it.

[@TheHanney123]

So they don't have to work that hard anymore.. Jobs get better. Smarter. Indeed, men have to get smarter too, but that is the cycle of human life. Never ever has humanity stopped to evolve and develop. Why stop now. To infinity. And beyond!