Boston Dynamics tests robot dogs for delivery service
▼ Summary
– Boston Dynamics is testing a new conveyor belt accessory for its Spot robot that allows it to carry packages from a vehicle and autonomously unload them on a customer’s doorstep.
– The accessory aims to reduce a delivery driver’s workload by automating the final leg of package delivery.
– Humans remain the most efficient way to navigate obstacles like stairs or cluttered pathways when getting packages from a truck to a doorstep.
– Spot already performs other jobs, such as routine factory inspections and patrolling the ruins of Pompeii.
– The robot is being tested as a delivery assistant, building on earlier attempts to automate deliveries with wheeled robots or aerial drones.
Boston Dynamics’ four-legged machine, Spot, has already proven its value in roles like routine factory inspections and patrolling the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Now, the company is setting its sights on a new frontier: package delivery. The robotics firm is currently testing a novel conveyor belt accessory that enables Spot to haul parcels from a delivery truck and then autonomously deposit them right on a customer’s front step. The goal is to significantly lighten the load for human delivery drivers.
Previous efforts to speed up and automate last-mile logistics have leaned on wheeled robots or aerial drones. Yet, humans remain the most reliable option for navigating tricky obstacles such as stairs, uneven terrain, or cluttered pathways between a truck and a doorstep. A demonstration video shows Spot bridging that exact gap, smoothly carrying boxes from a vehicle to a porch without constant human guidance.
(Source: The Verge)
