FedEx Will Trial Autonomous Delivery Robots This SummerThe SameDay Bot will deliver smaller packages from select retailers.
This story originally appeared onEngadget
FedEx is making its first moves intoautonomous delivery. The company announced today that it's working on the SameDay Bot, a small vehicle that can travel independently along sidewalks and roadsides, helping retailers make same-day and last mile deliveries to their customers.
The bot is being developed using the same technology used in mobility device iBot, and will feature pedestrian-safe tech, multiple cameras,LiDARand machine learning to help it detect and avoid obstacles, and navigate uneven surfaces.
FedEx doesn't anticipate the bot replacing its existing same-day delivery services, but instead complementing them. Trials kick off this summer in a number of areas, including Memphis, Tennessee (pending city approval), and between FedEx Office locations. The company already has AutoZone, Pizza Hut, Target andWalmarton board for initial testing.
FedEx is the latest in a line of companies trialling this kind of technology. While the likes of Amazon and Google have been focusing on airborne drones for future deliveries, others -- namelyfood deliverycompanies -- have been working onsimilar sidewalk-basedtech. However, FedEx has huge global reach. As long as it can navigate thelegal obstaclesencountered by other companies innovating in this area, its sheer scale could be the thing that eventually sends autonomous delivery bots mainstream.
