Veho and Rivr Launch Robot Delivery Pilot in Austin
Veho and Swiss robotics startup Rivr are tackling the last-mile delivery challenge with a new pilot program in Austin, Texas. The program features Rivr's four-wheeled, stair-climbing delivery robots, described as "a dog on rollerskates," transporting packages from Veho vans directly to customers' doorsteps.
Initial Pilot Phase Focuses on Residential Deliveries
The initial phase involves one supervised robot operating for five to six hours daily over a few weeks. This small-scale launch allows both companies to gather crucial data and refine the autonomous delivery process. The pilot will begin in northwest Austin's residential areas before expanding to denser urban locations.
Rivr's Robots Aim to Enhance Delivery Efficiency
Rivr CEO and founder Marko Bjelonic emphasizes the robots' ability to solve physically demanding tasks for human drivers. He sees the robots as a key differentiator in last-mile delivery, offering an evolutionary step beyond existing sidewalk robots. The partnership with Veho also provides Rivr with valuable real-world data to improve its AI framework.
Robotics makes an impact by solving challenging problems that are easy for humans but hard for robots. We see Rivr as a differentiator, the next evolutionary step.
Veho Explores Automation for Increased Capacity
For Veho, this pilot offers a chance to explore automation from van to doorstep. This could increase delivery capacity, especially in dense areas where drivers and robots can work together. Veho's CTO, Fred Cook, envisions equipping delivery vans with charging stations to support all-day robot operation.
Pilot Program Emphasizes Safety and Data Collection
During the Austin trial, a Rivr employee will accompany the robot to ensure safety and monitor delivery quality. While the robots can operate autonomously, remote operators can intervene if needed. Rivr aims to scale to 100 robots by next year and thousands by 2027. The startup is also operating in the U.K. through a partnership with delivery platform Evri.
Rivr has raised over $25 million, including funding from a Jeff Bezos-led round that valued the company at $100 million. This partnership represents a significant step forward in the evolution of last-mile delivery solutions.
