Working side by side

Autonomous motorized robots known as drivers look like solid plastic pallets low to the ground. They wheel themselves over QR codes on the floor and are controlled by computer algorithms.

On its top, one of these robots can carry a shelving unit in the picking section or, in the sortation section, a single cardboard package that’s nearly ready for shipping.

Years ago, workers would walk miles each day to retrieve products themselves. But now, when attached to drivers, the shelving units move themselves across the fulfillment center’s cement floor and bring products to employees for packing.

There’s a single robotic arm attached to a platform used in the sortation section that works with the drivers to move packages along.

The large, robotic arm sweeps across a conveyor belt to pick up and sort packages that already have shipping labels on them. It uses suction cups to pick up the packages, uses a camera to scan the labels, and sets the packages on the drivers that wheel themselves to the right chute, where packages keep traveling to the next processing area.

There are still manual package sortation stations where workers pick up boxes from a conveyor belt and place them on those robotic drivers.

Those stations are usually reserved for high-demand periods like busy shopping seasons; the stations are only opened when the robotic arm section hits max capacity. On average, about 80% of packages are sorted by autonomous robots.

There are about two dozen of those robotic arms attached to the platforms in the sortation section working now. They can process 150% more packages than humans, in part because they don’t take breaks and run 24 hours a day.

The average package at the facility is 25 pounds or lighter. The robotic arms can lift up to 50 pounds if the suction cups have a good grasp.

“Instead of the associate being focused on the physical lifting, the role has now transferred to, ‘How do I keep the robots on the floor running?’” Jones said. “The automation allows for the associate to focus on quality inspection.”

The company is investing in new robotic arms on a different floor of the facility as its expansion plan.

The average nationwide hourly wage at a customer fulfillment center and operations job is $22 an hour. When benefits are included, the company estimates the value is $29 an hour.

Amazon declined to share how much the robots cost for initial purchase and maintenance. But through generative artificial intelligence the company is “optimizing our supply chain planning, forecasting and delivery routing as well as creating new capabilities in robotics and automation,” the company said.

Memorial Day has passed, and the end of the school year is right around the corner.

Kids will be home for the summer, leaving parents with the question: Can they be home alone?

It’s tricky for any parent, but here’s some help to make a decision.

How old does a child have to be to stay home alone in Delaware?

There is no law in Delaware regulating an appropriate age for a child to be left home alone, according to Delaware’s Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.

When can a child stay home alone?

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ website says most child experts agree that around 11 or 12 is an appropriate age for a child to stay home alone. Here are some things to consider when making the decision.

• Maturity level and safety: Is your child mature enough to handle being home alone and able to handle themselves if something happens, like a power outage or an emergency, like a fire or gas leak?
• Trust level: Do you trust your children to think before they act? This is important for teens who may be tempted to experiment with illegal activities. Think about how your child responds to peer pressure. Also, can you trust your child to follow the rules of the house?
• Common sense: Will your child make sound judgments? If your child grabbed the milk and it smelled sour or was curdled, would they throw it out or drink it?
• Keeping busy: Outside of video games and television, can your child stay busy with other hobbies or interests while you are out?
• Comfort level: How do you feel about leaving your child home alone? Talk to your child about the possibility and realize you know your child the best.

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What to do before a child stays home alone

Once you decide to let your child stay home alone, here are ways to prepare.

Emergency plan

• Make a list of cellphone numbers, workplace numbers and how to reach family members and your pediatrician. Post them in a visible location.
• Have a first-aid kit available for minor injuries and teach your child how to use all of the supplies in the kit
• Show your child where the batteries, flashlights or other emergency supplies are in case something happens.
• If you have an alarm system, ensure your child knows how to turn it on and off.
• Make sure your child knows how and when to call 911.
• Go over the emergency exit plan. Ensure your child knows what to do if there is a fire or gas leak.

Establish the ground rules

• Are friends allowed in the house while the child is home alone?
• Is the child allowed to cook and what foods are off-limits?
• Can the child answer the phone or the door while you are out?
• What should the child do with your dog or cat while you are gone?