Amazon launches Scout – autonomous delivery robots on wheels
Six Amazon Scout robot delivery systems will be out and about in a neighbourhood not far from the web retailer’s HQ in Seattle….
Amazon deliveries will arrive on doorsteps in one US neighbourhood with a difference from today, as the web retailer introduces its own delivery robot called Amazon Scout.
Six of the autonomous robots are being tested in the Snohomish County of Washington, not far from the company’s headquarters in Seattle.
The fully-electric, six-wheeled machine will move at walking pace on paths and are the size of a small cooler.
Although Amazon Scout is designed to carry out deliveries on its own, an Amazon employee will follow the robots initially to ensure they are functioning properly.
“We developed Amazon Scout at our research and development lab in Seattle, ensuring the devices can safely and efficiently navigate around pets, pedestrians and anything else in their path,” said Sean Scott, Amazon Scout vice president, in a blog post.
Amazon have explored various ways to transform how products are delivered over the years, with a Prime Air project testing the possibility of delivering lighter goods to remote areas via drone
As it’s a test, it’s too soon to know whether Amazon Scout will come to the UK but others have long been testing autonomous delivery robots of their own across the pond.
Starship Technologies has already tested its own in the UK, using the likes of takeaway food site Just Eat to bring customer’s food to their doorstep.
In January, Amazon made it to the top spot as the most valuable publicly traded US firm for the first time.
