Amazon halts robotics project after less than 6 months

Amazon officially pulled the plug on Blue Jay, its ambitious multi-armed warehouse robot, just four months after its high-profile public debut in October 2025.

While the project was hailed as a breakthrough in “physical AI” during its launch, the rapid discontinuation reflects a strategic pivot in Amazon’s automation roadmap as it moves toward more modular and flexible warehouse designs.

What was Blue Jay?

Introduced as the “core of logistics innovation,” Blue Jay was a ceiling-mounted system designed for same-day delivery facilities. It was unique because it collapsed three separate robotic stations into one, allowing it to pick, stow, and consolidate items in a single workspace.+1

• Rapid Development: Leveraging advanced AI simulations, Blue Jay was built in just one year—significantly faster than previous robots like Sparrow or Proteus.
• Capabilities: At its peak testing in a South Carolina facility, it was capable of handling approximately 75% of all item types stored by Amazon.
• The “Sidekick” Approach: It worked alongside employees, designed to keep them in their “ergonomic power zone” by handling repetitive reaching and lifting tasks.

Why the Project was Halted

Despite its technical prowess, several “on-the-ground” realities led to the project’s early demise:

1. High Costs & Complexity: The ceiling-mounted architecture made installation and maintenance significantly more expensive and complex than floor-based alternatives.
2. Manufacturing Hurdles: The intricate multi-arm coordination required for Blue Jay proved difficult to scale for mass production across hundreds of sites.
3. The Shift to “Orbital”: Amazon is moving away from the large, fixed-layout system (internally known as LVM) that Blue Jay was built for. Instead, the company is prioritizing “Orbital,” a new, modular architecture that can be deployed in smaller, community-based hubs like Whole Foods stores.+1

The “Flex Cell” Pivot

Amazon has clarified that the project’s end is a “recalibration,” not a failure.

• Technology Transfer: The core AI perception and manipulation software developed for Blue Jay is being integrated into a new system called Flex Cell.
• Floor-Mounted Future: Unlike its predecessor, Flex Cell will be floor-mounted, making it easier to install and more adaptable to various warehouse sizes.
• No Layoffs: All personnel who worked on the Blue Jay project have reportedly been reassigned to other divisions within Amazon Robotics.