The RIVR robots that resemble dogs join the Veho Vans to solve the “last 100 yard” delivery of parcels in Austin
Most delivery automation stops at the limit. But to car The Zurich-based RIVR is located to RIVR, and the real challenge-the opportunity-at that percent of the final from Van to Doorstep.
On a pilot program launched on Tuesday in Austin, the RIVR RIVR will describe the four -wheeled and stairs, which is described by CEO and founder Marco Pelionic as “a dog on rollrskates”, with packs of Vearo trucks directly to the front doors of customers.
They told Techcrunch exclusively. One robot will greatly supervise daily, over a period of two to six hours over a period of two weeks throughout Austin. But the two companies see it as an important step towards solving a unique segment of the independent to one side.
Bjelonic says that in the birth of the last mile, “robots have an effect by solving these very difficult problems that are actually very easy for humans but they are difficult for robots. We see to see [Rivr] As discrimination, as an evolutionary step almost the next of the berth robots. “
Regardless of its appearance in the United States for the first time, the partnership with Veho – which provides across 50 American markets for brands such as Sephora, Saks and HelloFressh and more – RIVR also gives an opportunity to test their technology and accumulate data needed to build an actual actual framework.
“What we have seen in the automatic space is that there is a data barrier, because ChatGPT and other chats have the Internet as training data, and independent cars have thousands of cars on the street that can attach sensors and start data collection,” said Bjelonic Techcrunch. “But in the world of robots, this type of data collection is missing, so you need to find a meaningful use where you can solve a real problem, and then you can start collecting all the data to make these robots smarter.”
For Veho, this partnership is an opportunity to test what the automation looks from the truck to the customer’s door and may allow more delivery operations simultaneously, especially in dense urban areas where each driver and robot can mark a specific team simultaneously. Bjelonic says that “robot assistants” from Rivr can also “reduce the burden of working on these drivers” by taking the physical walking task of walking from door to door.
During the Austin experience, the RIVR employee will accompany the robot to ensure safety and delivery quality. Bjelonic Techcrunch has been told that BOTS can work independently, but those who operate away will be able to benefit if they stumble.
Austin’s pilot will start in the residential area in the northwest of Austin before expanding the dense areas of the city, according to Farid Cook, co -founder of VEARO and CTO. In the future, Cook says he can imagine vehicle pairing with certain types of vehicles with software charging to keep them continuous for a full day of work.
RIVR hopes to use learning from its partnership with Veho to expand the range of 100 robots by next year and thousands in 2027. The startup company is currently working in the UK through a partnership with the EVRI delivery platform. RIVR raised more than $ 25 million, including from Jeff Bezos tour, Jeff Bezos The company is estimated at $ 100 million.
