Amazon Tests Robot Workers to Replace Delivery Drivers

Yahoo

a day ago

A new kind of delivery worker is in training—and it doesn't take lunch breaks or call in sick. Amazon is reportedly training humanoid robots behind closed doors, testing whether machines can eventually handle the last mile of your online orders.
Amazon is making bold strides toward an automated delivery future by developing software that could power humanoid robots capable of leaping out of vans and handling package drop-offs. According to a report from The Information, the tech giant is building a dedicated testing facility dubbed a 'humanoid park' somewhere in the U.S., where these robots are being trained to navigate complex delivery tasks.
While Amazon is focused on building the artificial intelligence brains behind these machines, it's partnering with external firms for the physical hardware. Inside a San Francisco Amazon office, the company has created an indoor obstacle course roughly the size of a coffee shop, where these robots are currently learning to maneuver everyday delivery challenges.
The ultimate goal is for these humanoid bots to ride in Amazon's Rivian electric vans—over 20,000 of which are already deployed across the U.S.—and deliver packages independently. In the near term, they could work alongside human drivers, making simultaneous deliveries to increase efficiency. And with Amazon's self-driving vehicle subsidiary, Zoox, also in the mix, the company may one day deploy fully autonomous delivery systems from start to finish.
Once initial indoor trials are complete, Amazon reportedly plans to take these robots on real-world 'field trips,' where they'll be tested in neighborhood settings to see how well they handle actual doorstep deliveries.
Amazon's experimentation with humanoid robots isn't new. The tech giant has already introduced robots into its warehouse operations, including trials with Digit, a bipedal machine developed by U.S.-based Agility Robotics. According to Agility's CEO Peggy Johnson, 'the company's Digit robot allowed employees to hand off work to humanoids and become a 'robot manager,'' she told The Guardian last year.
Beyond ground robotics, Amazon is also exploring the skies. In 2023, the company secured approval in the UK to test drones flying beyond the visual line of sight of human operators—a key step toward deploying drone technology for home delivery services.
Experts in the field believe Amazon's growing focus on the so-called 'last mile' of delivery is a logical extension of its existing automation initiatives. Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy, chair of robot learning and autonomy at the University of Edinburgh, noted that 'Amazon had a respected robotics team and its reported focus on 'last mile' delivery was not a surprise.' He emphasized that while the hardware for humanoid delivery robots is becoming increasingly viable, the real challenge lies in reliably deploying them in everyday environments.
He explained: 'If Amazon restricts the scope, which means using relatively clear driveways and standard layouts of doors and surroundings, then the task would be quite a bit simpler. As the environments become more complex and variable, and others enter the picture – such as pets and small children – the problems become harder.'
Robots are unlikely to completely replace human Amazon workers anytime soon, but they are increasingly being used to supplement and streamline tasks, especially in areas like delivery and warehousing.
Rather than a full replacement, Amazon is likely aiming for a hybrid workforce—robots handling routine labor, with humans overseeing, managing, and handling the exceptions. That means some jobs could change or disappear, but new roles in robotics management, maintenance, and oversight are likely to emerge.
So while robots will take on more tasks, human workers will still play a crucial—if evolving—role in Amazon's future.
Sources: The Guardian, The Information
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