Veho, a technology company operating an alternative parcel delivery platform in the United States, has partnered with robotics company RIVR to trial autonomous delivery robots aimed at enhancing e-commerce logistics.
The pilot programme has begun in Austin, Texas, with plans to expand into additional cities later this year based on the outcome of the pilot.
The companies have said that the initiative is not designed to replace human couriers but to “augment their capabilities” — allowing drivers to deliver more parcels in less time, with reduced physical strain.
Under the scheme, drivers will continue to make deliveries while RIVR’s wheeled-legged robots conduct parallel drop-offs.
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The robots can navigate from delivery vehicles to customers’ doorsteps, placing packages according to customer instructions and sending photographic confirmation via the Veho mobile app.
Throughout the trial, a RIVR employee will accompany the robot to ensure safe operation and delivery accuracy, while teams from both companies monitor the performance in real-time.
Veho, which recently launched operations in New York City, delivers millions of parcels monthly across 50 US metropolitan areas.
Its logistics platform which is supported by more than 30 distribution centres and more than 84,000 independent driver-partners, is developed entirely in-house.
RIVR’s robotic solution addresses the “last-100-yard” challenge with a combination of advanced physical AI and a versatile wheeled-legged design.
Unlike traditional sidewalk delivery robots that are confined to curb-side use, RIVR’s system can navigate complex urban environments including stairs, gates, and uneven surfaces.
Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR, said: “Our partnership with Veho is a major milestone on that journey to bring our technology to the US As a leading parcel delivery platform in the US, Veho offers the ideal environment for deploying at scale—helping us deliver not just faster and more cost-effective service, but a smarter, more human-centred model for robotics in logistics.”
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