Amazon employs AI-based tech to enforce social distancing at its offices and warehouses

Amazon has unveiled an artificial intelligence-based tracking system to enforce social distancing at its offices and warehouses to help mitigate the impact of coronavirus. The tech solution applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to the camera footage in the buildings to help site leaders identify high traffic areas.

The company has deployed augmented reality to create a magic-mirror-like tool that helps associates see their physical distancing from others. Working backward from a concept of immediate visual feedback, and inspired by existing examples like radar speed check signs, ‘Distance Assistant’ provides employees with live feedback on social distancing via a 50-inch monitor, a camera, and a local computing device.

As people walk past the camera, a monitor displays live video with visual overlays to show if associates are within 6 feet of one another. Individuals remaining 6 feet apart are highlighted with green circles, while those who are closer together are highlighted with red circles. he on-screen indicators are designed to remind and encourage associates to maintain an appropriate distance from others.