UK parcel delivery firm Evri has embarked on an industry-first in cooperation with tech start-up RIVR with the launch of a new autonomous robotic delivery dog, which has been designed to fetch and carry parcels from couriers’ vans straight to customers’ doors.
The state-of-the art robotic couriers are equipped with AI-powered navigation, obstacle detection and agility. They will work in partnership with a courier to deliver parcels in a trial set for summer 2025.
Supporting – not replacing – couriers
The autonomous canine has been developed by RIVR, a Swiss global innovation leader in physical AI. In partnership with Evri, the focus of the trial is to gain insight into how the robot dogs can work with couriers to improve efficiency, supporting with some of the more strenuous parts of the job.
The robotic dogs can also be tracked in real time and are fully electric, providing a lower carbon solution for eco-conscious customers who want their parcels delivered without adding to their carbon “paw-print,” Evri noted.
Human’s best friend
