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NDTV
3 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
End Of Human Delivery Workers? Amazon Testing Humanoid Robots That 'Spring Out' Of Vans
E-commerce giant Amazon is preparing to deliver orders to its customers' doors via a humanoid robot workforce. These robots would "spring out" of the vans and deliver the orders and eventually take the jobs of the delivery workers, according to a report in The Information, as cited by The Guardian. The tech behemoth has already built a "humanoid park" at its San Francisco office to test the delivery robots. An indoor obstacle course, about the size of a coffee shop, is being used to test the agility of the robots. Amazon is hoping that the robots will be able to travel in its Rivian vans and expedite the deliveries. Currently, Amazon has 20,000 Rivians in the US and has placed one of teh vans in the testing maze. Once the robots have aced the humanoid park, they will be taken for 'field trips' in the real world, where the robots will attempt to deliver packages to homes. Amazon is developing the artificial intelligence (AI) software that would power such robots, adding that the company plans to use hardware from other firms in its tests, for now. Robots and Amazon Even with a human driver, a robot could theoretically speed up drop-off times by visiting one address while the human employee delivers to another. The company is also hoping to include Zoox, a robotaxi company it acquired in 2020, to fully automate end-to-end package delivery -- from the warehouse to the customer's front door. The $2 trillion company is already using a variety of autonomous robots in its warehouse operations. It has deployed Digit robot, developed by Agility Robotics, which allows employees to hand off work to humanoids and become a 'robot manager'. Last year, Amazon was given permission to test-fly drones beyond a human controller's line of sight in the UK, paving the way for using the technology in home delivery.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Amazon to test humanoid robots for doorstep deliveries in Rivian vans
Listen to article 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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
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. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Amazon ‘testing humanoid robots to deliver packages'
Amazon is reportedly developing software for humanoid robots that could perform the role of delivery workers and 'spring out' of its vans. The $2tn (€1.75tn) technology company is building a 'humanoid park' in the US to test the robots, said the tech news site the Information, citing a person who had been involved in the project. The Information reported that the robots could eventually take the jobs of delivery workers. It is developing the artificial intelligence software that would power the robots but will use hardware developed by other companies. The indoor obstacle course being used for the tests at an Amazon office in San Francisco is about the size of a coffee shop, the report said, with the company hoping that the robots will be able to travel in Amazon's Rivian vans and make deliveries from them. Even with a human driver behind the wheel, a robot could theoretically speed up drop-off times by visiting one address while the human employee delivers to another. Amazon also has an interest in self-driving vehicles through its Zoox unit. Amazon has more than 20,000 Rivians in the US and has placed one of the vans in the humanoid testing zone, according to the report. Once it has tested the robots in the humanoid park, it plans to take them on 'field trips' in the real world where they will attempt to deliver packages to homes. Robot trials Amazon has already conducted trials with humanoid robots, deploying devices developed by the US company Agility Robotics in its warehouses. The chief executive of Agility, Peggy Johnson, told the Guardian last year that the company's Digit robot allowed employees to hand off work to humanoids and become a 'robot manager'. Last year Amazon was given permission to test-fly drones beyond a human controller's line of sight in Britain paving the way for using the technology in home delivery. Prof Subramanian Ramamoorthy, the chair of robot learning and autonomy at the University of Edinburgh, said Amazon had a respected robotics team and its reported focus on 'last mile' delivery was not a surprise. The humanoid robot hardware capable of carrying out such a task is coming available, and the field is developing rapidly, he said. However, he added, the challenge is to achieve reliable performance outside highly constrained environments such as the reported 'humanoid park'. He said: '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.' Amazon has been contacted for comment. The Guardian Read More High Court grants TikTok stay on suspension of data transfers to China
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon testing humanoid delivery robots in San Francisco 'humanoid park'
Amazon is working on artificial intelligence (AI) software to power humanoid robots that could eventually replace human delivery workers, according to a report by The Information. The tech giant is also said to be building a dedicated testing facility, dubbed a 'humanoid park', in San Francisco to trial these robots in indoor obstacle environments. While Amazon has not publicly confirmed the report, the move would mark a significant leap in its automation efforts, which already include a growing roster of robotic systems in its warehouses. What is Amazon's goal for humanoid delivery robots? Amazon's AI-powered humanoid robots are still in the early stages, with the company reportedly using third-party hardware during initial testing. The goal, The Information report suggests, is to eventually create a robot workforce capable of navigating complex delivery routes, a job traditionally done by human drivers and gig workers. What robots are already part of Amazon's automation network? Amazon has already deployed or is testing several advanced robots in its fulfilment network: Digit: A humanoid robot developed to handle empty totes in warehouses. Designed for mobility and flexibility, Digit is being tested for repetitive manual tasks. Robin & Cardinal: Robotic arms that can lift packages up to 50 pounds. Sparrow: A robotic arm designed to pick individual items from bins and redistribute them. Proteus: An autonomous mobile robot that moves carts across warehouse floors. Sequoia: A storage system that delivers totes to employees ergonomically, minimising bending and reaching. Robin is already operational in dozens of warehouses, while others remain in pilot phases. The company claims these robots improve efficiency, speed up order fulfilment, and reduce employee injuries. ALSO READ | How will humanoid robots affect Amazon's workforce? While Amazon touts the benefits of its robots, the increasing reliance on automation raises concerns about the future of human jobs. Amazon has previously stated that automation enhances worker safety and productivity, but critics argue that it also threatens job stability in the long term. While automation may reduce the need for human labour in certain tasks, the complete replacement of human delivery personnel is speculative at this stage.
