I'm back home from Apple and happy to be back from the high double-digit heat (but it was a dry heat!). I got a strong response from last week's newsletter, wherein we discussed questions around robotic delivery. Always nice to be reminded that people are, in fact, reading this thing we put out into the world every week. One reader brought up the question of safety in relation to delivery'bots -- specifically, for those people who have expressed concerns around having strangers deliver food to their front door. I'd add some privacy concerns around the robot's data collection into the mix as well.

The company will add D. Cloostermans–Huwaert NV to the Amazon Robotics division it launched in 2012 with the acquisition of Kiva Systems Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cloostermans, which has about 200 employees, was founded in 1884 as a manufacturer of machinery for textiles manufacturers. It has been refashioned as a specialist in engineering and automation. The company designs and makes warehouse technology Amazon said it already uses to move and stack heavy pallets and totes and to package products for delivery.

Amazon has agreed to buy Cloostermans, a company that makes robots capable of stacking pallets in its warehouses. Amazon says it already uses Belgium-based Cloostermans' tech, which can also package products. After the acquisition closes, Cloostermans' 200 or so employees will join the Amazon Global Robotics division in Europe and likely dedicate their time to solely building tech that suits Amazon's needs. "By focusing Cloostermans's deep experience in engineering, machinery, and robotics, we will more rapidly deploy solutions in our workplace that support employees in their roles and improve safety at work, and also help reduce packaging waste," Amazon said in a press release. The company has previously spoken of its belief that having more robots will improve worker safety.