Hermes will be Europe’s first parcel delivery company to test ‘deliveries by robot’ in cooperation with start-up firm Starship Technologies in Germany.
The company announced today that it has signed an exclusive logistics partnership with Starship for Germany, including financial assistance and infrastructure support. The two companies plan their first joint delivery tests this summer, although the location has not been decided yet.
Hermes said that field tests with Starship delivery robots in London, Tallinn (Estonia) and the USA have so far proved successful and without any incidents. In March, Starship announced tests across the UK with service partners later this year.
“The use of robots can revolutionise the delivery of packets and parcels, especially in urban areas,” said Hermes Germany CEO Frank Rausch, who welcomed the opportunity to be the exclusive logistics partner for “such an exciting and unique delivery project” in Germany.
Ahti Heinla, CEO of Starship Technologies, said: “Hermes is open for new ideas, very flexible in the marketplace and like us wants to help develop innovative delivery concepts. As the first logistics partner of Starship in Europe, Hermes thus fits perfectly with our vision.”
UK-based Starship Technologies, founded last year by two Skype co-founders, has developed small, self-driving six-wheeled ‘delivery robots’ which can transport up to 15kgs in a locked compartment.
The electrically-powered robots, driving at a fast walking speed of about 6km/h on pavements, in pedestrian zones, etc., use integrated navigation and ‘obstacle avoidance’ software, but are also overseen by human operators to ensure safety. They have a radius of 5km.
Recipients can track the robot in real-time through the Starship app and unlock the cargo with a PIN code when the delivery is made.
Starship claims it can complete local deliveries within 5-30 minutes from a local depot or retail outlet, such as a Hermes Parcel Shop, which would cost 10-15 times less per shipment than the current last-mile delivery alternatives.
