Amazon shuts down Blue Jay multi-armed warehouse robot in January, months after October launch, due to high costs and complexity; shifts focus to modular Orbital system for same-day delivery in smaller warehouses and Whole Foods stores.

Amazon pulls the plug on 'Blue Jay' warehouse robot after only a few months

Igor Pedan, with Amazon Robotics, introduced Blue Jay in Milpitas, California last year. LAURE ANDRILLON/AFP via Getty Images Amazon halts Blue Jay robot project amid strategic shift in warehouse technology. Blue Jay faced high costs and complexities; Amazon refocuses on "Orbital" system. Amazon's "Orbital" aims for modular, scalable same-day delivery in smaller warehouses. Amazon has pulled the plug on one of its newest warehouse robots, a few months after unveiling it.Blue Jay, a multi-armed r...