(GeekWire Photo)

Amazon has acquired Canvas Technology, a Boulder, Colo., robotics company that powers autonomous vehicles in industrial settings.

Amazon for years now has pushed to automate parts of its warehouses, deploying robots alongside human workers. This acquisition continues that focus, building on Amazon’s $775 million acquisition of robotics company Kiva Systems in 2012.

The company’s technology essentially boils down to driverless cars for warehouses. Canvas Technology uses “spatial artificial intelligence” and state-of-the-art cameras to help vehicles autonomously navigate through areas with a lot of moving parts, including people on foot and operating equipment.

TechCrunch first reported the acquisition, and Amazon issued the following statement on the deal:

“We are inspired by Canvas Technology’s innovations, and share a common vision for a future where people work alongside robotics to further improve safety and the workplace experience. We look forward to working with Canvas Technology’s fantastic team to keep inventing for customers.”

Canvas is led by Jonathan McQueen, who spent six years at Qualcomm. The company raised a $15 million Series A round in 2017.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with a statement from Amazon.

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