DPD customers in Milton Keynes will now be able to have their parcels delivered by Ottonomy’s multi-compartment, fully autonomous ‘locker’ robot, Ottobot.
The Ottobot is larger than DPD’s existing autonomous delivery robots, with a maximum payload of 70kg, eight separate compartments for varying parcel sizes and the ability to also collect parcels.
The robot features four-wheel powered swerve drive with independent steering and suspension for maximum maneuverability, while multiple sensors including lidars and cameras and cutting-edge software enable the Ottobot to navigate the most complex environments autonomously.
DPD is the first UK parcel delivery company to deploy the Ottobot, which will be based at DPD’s Milton Keynes depot in Knowlhill and will navigate the city’s traffic-free Redway network to access nearby residential neighborhoods.
The additional compartments not only enable the robot to work more efficiently with up to eight separate deliveries each time it leaves the depot but can also accommodate larger parcels in two 38L compartments.
Once the locker robots have completed the mapping process, they operate fully autonomously. DPD parcel recipients will receive an SMS when the robot is outside their property and can then use a secure one-time pin to open the robot and access their parcel.
The robot battery lasts up to six hours, with the ability to swap the battery for a fully charged one at the depot to keep the robot on the road.
Tim Jones, director of marketing, communications and sustainability DPDgroup UK, commented, “We are absolutely delighted to be deploying locker robots in the UK. This is the next chapter for us in terms of autonomous deliveries after a very successful rollout across a number of different locations. It’s well over two years now since we began autonomous robot deliveries and the customer feedback continues to be incredibly positive. We’ve also learned a lot in terms of how best to deploy the technology and how to maximize the effectiveness of the robots day to day.
“Ottobot potentially gives us a massive uplift in terms of productivity, with the ability to deliver up to eight parcels at a time before the robot needs to return to the depot to be reloaded. As always when we invest in new innovation, we want to learn fast and try new things, so we will be looking at how Ottobot could double-up as an additional, mobile parcel drop-off point for customers.”
Ritukar Vijay, founder and CEO, Ottonomy, added, “It is fantastic to see Ottobot deployed in the UK parcel delivery market. DPD is already well ahead of its competitors with its robot fleet and is well placed to maximize the full potential of Ottobot. Our autonomous robot technology is designed to help brands meet customers’ ever-changing demands in new ways and provide the scalability to be a truly effective solution.”
DPD launched its autonomous robot delivery service in Milton Keynes in 2022 and has since rolled in out to location including Lincoln, Raunds and Bristol.