Yesterday’s announcement from Evri that it will be using robotic dogs to deliver parcels in the UK was not an April Fool’s joke – the company really is trialling autonomous robot delivery dogs later this year.
The last-mile delivery robots will be trialled in the summer alongside Evri’s traditional human couriers. Each four-legged robot dog can hop in and out of the courier’s van as it makes its way to and from homes delivering parcels – reducing some of the courier’s workload.
Marcus Hunter, chief technology officer at Evri, commented, “Couriers always have been and always will be the heart of our business. Robots will never replace them, but we are dedicated to finding new and innovative methods to support our couriers and increase the speed and convenience of the services we offer. In this next stage of innovation, we are thrilled to introduce these robot delivery trials, which could provide increased flexibility and choice for consumers.”
The autonomous canine has been developed by RIVR, a Swiss global innovation leader in physical AI. The focus of the trial is to gain insight into how the robot dogs can work with couriers to improve efficiency and help with some of the more strenuous parts of the job.
Future of parcel delivery
This is just one of several trials Evri is conducting as it looks to the future of parcel delivery, developing technology solutions that will complement its delivery offering alongside couriers.
In another project operating out of Barnsley Business Innovation Centre, a small, lightweight EV robot, developed by Delivers AI, will also soon be out delivering parcels with the support of the local courier. This summer, residents on chosen streets in Barnsley will have the option to have all their parcels delivered by these robots for the three-month trial. Residents will be able to sign up for the trial via a dedicated website.
These robots can be deployed 24 hours a day, allowing for night-time deliveries and more on-demand services with designated time slots. The robots can also be used to support consumers who need more time to get to the door.
Evri plans to take the robot dog into local schools to demonstrate its capabilities to young children and give them the chance to name it.