Robots could soon replace humans to deliver your Amazon orders
Amazon
is developing
humanoid robots
that could soon replace human delivery workers, with plans to have the machines "spring out" of
Rivian electric vans
to deliver packages directly to customers' doors.
The e-commerce giant has constructed a "humanoid park" testing facility at its
San Francisco
office, according to a report by The Information. The indoor obstacle course, roughly the size of a coffee shop, features a Rivian delivery van where Amazon will test various humanoid robots in simulated delivery scenarios.
The company is developing artificial intelligence software to power these robots while using hardware from external manufacturers. One robot being tested is a $16,000 unit from China-based Unitree, though Amazon plans to evaluate multiple humanoid models during the trials.
Once testing concludes at the facility, Amazon intends to conduct real-world "field trips" where robots will attempt actual package deliveries to homes. The robots would travel in the back of Amazon's fleet of over 20,000 Rivian electric vans, potentially speeding up delivery times by allowing simultaneous drops at multiple addresses.
This initiative represents a significant expansion of Amazon's existing robotics program. The company already uses autonomous robots extensively in its warehouses and has previously trialed
Agility
Robotics' humanoid "Digit" robot for logistics tasks. However, deploying humanoid robots for last-mile delivery in uncontrolled outdoor environments presents new technical challenges.
The development coincides with Amazon's broader AI push announced Wednesday, which includes agentic AI systems for warehouse operations and generative AI for enhanced delivery mapping. The company is also working on smart eyeglasses for drivers that would provide hands-free navigation and delivery instructions.
Amazon's humanoid delivery robot project could eventually impact hundreds of thousands of delivery jobs globally, as the company seeks to fully automate package delivery from warehouse to doorstep. The timeline for real-world deployment remains unclear, with testing still in early phases.
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