You might see FedEx robots delivering packages this summer
SameDay Bots, roll out!
Fedex's SameDay Bot blends in perfectly.
FedEx is rolling into autonomous delivery, and soon.
The company will do a trial run of the SameDay Bot, a robot for same-day and last-minute deliveries, in selected cities this summer, it said Wednesday.
SameDay Bot can travel on sidewalks and roadsides to bring you smaller items, and it's based on the technology used in the iBot mobility device. It also uses multiple cameras and lidar sensing to avoid obstacles and negotiate various surfaces.
"The FedEx SameDay Bot is an innovation designed to change the face of local delivery and help retailers efficiently address their customers' rising expectations," said Brie Carere, FedEx's executive vice president and marketing and communications boss, in the release.
AutoZone, Lowe's, Pizza Hut, Target, Walgreens and Walmart are among FedEx's retail partners in the project. It hopes to test the bot this summer in markets including Memphis, Tennessee. Other locales weren't specified, pending final city approvals.
The mayor of Memphis voiced his support for the project.
"We couldn't be more excited that FedEx chose its hometown as one of the pilot cities for this revolutionary innovation," Jim Strickland said in the release.
On Tuesday, SameDay Bot delivered a warm pizza to Jimmy Fallon and $100 gift cards for the Tonight Show audience, in a "global unveiling" that showcased its ability to navigate a variety of terrain and the roominess of its container for packages.
More and more companies are looking to adopt autonomous delivery options. In January, Stop & Shop announced plans to deploy a fleet of driverless grocery delivery vehicles in the Boston area, while Nuro launched Kroger grocery delivery pods in Arizona back in December.
