It was, of course, just a matter of time before Amazon deployed delivery robots. The company has had a robotics wing for a number of years now, though much of its public-facing side has been focused on warehouse logistics. Today, however, it took the wraps off Scout.
The six-wheeled robot looks a fair bit like a number of the delivery robots already being piloted on sidewalks all over the world. This one, however, was apparently developed in-house by Amazon. As the company notes, the electric system is the size of a beach cooler and cruises along at roughly a walking pace.
The ‘bot is going to be piloted in Snohomish County, Washington, which boarders Seattle’s King County. The company no doubt wanted to get word out before residents were confused by little blue robots cruising around their otherwise quiet neighborhoods. There’s even an ad with jaunty startup music to assure people they’ve got nothing to fear.
The pilot program involves six Scouts to start. The ‘bots are designed to autonomously reach their destination, but these early models will be accompanied by Amazon employees to make sure everything goes as planned. If Amazon does adopt Scout more widely, the robot could eventually replace last mile logistics from carriers like UPS, FedEx and USPS.
Delivery Robots
Moderators: Bakhtosh, EvilHomer3k
- Isgrimnur
- Posts: 82241
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
- Location: Chookity pok
- Contact:
Delivery Robots
Amazon Scout
It's almost as if people are the problem.
- Paingod
- Posts: 13135
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:58 am
Re: Delivery Robots
I look forward to ground-based drones causing accidents, falling into ditches, and being stolen wholesale along with the packages they contain.
Black Lives Matter
2021-01-20: The first good night's sleep I had in 4 years.
2021-01-20: The first good night's sleep I had in 4 years.
- hepcat
- Posts: 51444
- Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:02 pm
- Location: Chicago, IL Home of the triple homicide!
- Isgrimnur
- Posts: 82241
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2006 12:29 am
- Location: Chookity pok
- Contact:
Re: Delivery Robots
If the security robots can't be left unsupervised, what hope for the delivery bots?
It's almost as if people are the problem.