Amazon to test humanoid robots for doorstep deliveries in Rivian vans
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Amazon is preparing to test a new generation of humanoid robots that could soon be delivering packages to your doorstep, according to a report by The Information. The e-commerce giant is developing AI software to power these autonomous delivery bots, which will be transported in Rivian electric vans and deployed directly to customers' homes.
A prototype testing facility—described as an indoor "humanoid park" about the size of a coffee shop—has reportedly been constructed at Amazon's offices in San Francisco. The site includes an obstacle course and a Rivian van for training purposes, where robots are being taught to "hitch a ride" and leap out to make deliveries.
The ambitious project is part of a broader push by Amazon to create more intelligent, flexible robotic systems that go beyond the rigid automation currently used in warehouses. The company recently launched a new 'agentic AI' team, focused on building robots that can interpret and respond to natural language commands. These systems, Amazon says, are designed to turn conventional warehouse bots into 'multi-talented assistants.'
Amazon is already experimenting with humanoid robots through a pilot programme with Agility Robotics' 'Digit,' a bipedal machine designed for logistics tasks such as carrying packages and navigating confined spaces. The San Francisco test site will expand those efforts by evaluating a range of robots, including a $16,000 model from Chinese robotics firm Unitree.
Currently, hundreds of thousands of workers manage Amazon's global delivery network. However, the company's acquisition of autonomous vehicle startup Zoox in 2020 hinted at a longer-term goal: full automation of its delivery pipeline, from warehouse to doorstep.
Amazon has not confirmed a launch timeline for the delivery bots but says its research is focused on building systems that 'understand, hear, and act' more like humans—suggesting a future where your next Amazon order might be delivered not by a driver, but by a walking robot.
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