Amazon is planning a new generation of automated delivery stations that could handle packages about 2.5 times faster than current sites, according to a recent report.
Project Tetromino aims for speed boost
The internal code name Project Tetromino describes a system that relies on AI and robotics to sort and stage parcels for trucks. The design promises to reduce manual steps that workers perform today.
Amazon plans to launch a pilot facility in 2028, with additional locations to follow if the trial meets expectations. The document notes Amazon will evaluate performance before scaling.
Amazon officials have pushed back on the projected timeline and cost estimates, saying the plan is still early and could shift. That disclaimer tempers the optimism around the rollout.
The timeline remains uncertain.
When asked for comment, the firm did not respond to a request from the reporting outlet.
Automation history shows steady growth
Over the past decade, Amazon has steadily added machines to its logistics network. More than 1 million robots operate across Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
Those devices include floor‑moving carriers, robotic arms that pick items, and a tactile unit capable of feeling its way to a product on a shelf. The variety aims to cover the whole packing process.
Chief technologist Tye Brady explained that the newest devices are intended to make workers’ jobs easier rather than replace them.
During a recent earnings call, Amazon said it shipped over 40% more same‑day or overnight items in the first half of the year compared with a year earlier. It also added 80 new towns to its Amazon Now rapid‑delivery program and launched a Supply Chain Services offering for external businesses.
Supply Chain Services leverages the same high‑throughput infrastructure, giving third‑party merchants access to Amazon’s speed and reliability without building their own robotic layers. This extension of the internal logistics platform illustrates how the automation push is not limited to Amazon’s own orders but is being opened as a commercial product.
Amazon’s cautionary note about the early stage of the project shows a broader pattern where internal projections are treated as flexible, subject to revision as technical feasibility and cost modeling evolve. The insight into Project Tetromino emerged from a confidential planning document that outlined expected performance gains, capital outlays, and integration pathways, providing analysts a rare glimpse into the company’s forward‑looking logistics blueprint.
Compared with the earlier rollout of basic conveyor robots, the current effort feels more like an upgrade than a revolution. The added speed resembles a treadmill on steroids, pushing throughput without a complete redesign of the warehouse layout.
The pilot will test whether the faster flow can be sustained under real‑world demand. If successful, the model could become the standard for future hubs, potentially matching the number of machines to human staff in each facility.
