U.S. top e-commerce leader Amazon on Wednesday unveiled a pilot program of a six-wheeled, full electric-powered autonomous delivery robot to bolster its logistics services.
The robot system, called Amazon Scout, is part of the company's latest strategy for offering an automated, last-mile delivery solution to its growing logistics business.
Amazon Scout, powered by an electric battery, moves at a walking pace. Its driving test has been conducted in a neighborhood in Snohomish, the third most populous county in the state of Washington on the U.S. west coast.
"We're starting with six Amazon Scout devices, delivering packages Monday through Friday, during daylight hours," Amazon said. "The devices will autonomously follow their delivery route but will initially be accompanied by an Amazon employee."
Amazon said the robot, which is about the size of a beach cooler, was developed at its research and development lab in Seattle and can "safely and efficiently navigate around pets, pedestrians and anything else in its path."
"From the latest Amazon innovation to cutting-edge technology, Snohomish County is a great place for entrepreneurial creativity," Snohomish County executive Dave Somers said.
Amazon said that starting Wednesday, packages ordered by customers in either its online shops or brick-and-mortar stores will be formally delivered by Amazon Scout in the neighborhood of Snohomish County.
