FedEx developed an autonomous battery-powered delivery robot to facilitate same-day last-mile deliveries, the company announced Wednesday. The FedEx SameDay Bot travels on sidewalks and along roadsides to deliver small shipments to consumers.

• The robot comes equipped with LiDAR, cameras and machine learning to help it avoid obstacles in its path. “Proprietary technology makes the bot highly capable, allowing it to navigate unpaved surfaces, curbs, and even steps for an extraordinary door-to-door delivery experience,” FedEx said.
• FedEx plans to test the robot this summer in “select markets,” including Memphis, Tennessee. Retail partners include AutoZone, Lowe’s, Pizza Hut, Target, Walgreens and Walmart.
• FedEx is well known for its B2B deliveries, but the unveiling of its last-mile delivery bot shows the value FedEx sees in further expanding its B2C capabilities.

  “On average, more than 60 percent of merchants’ customers live within three miles of a store location, demonstrating the opportunity for on-demand, hyper-local delivery,” FedEx said in a press release.

  In another recent move to capitalize on the last-mile market, FedEx announced a partnership with Rent the Runway to deliver afternoon orders by mid-afternoon the following day through the 3PL’s “extra hours” service.

  FedEx also partnered with Walgreens on next-day prescription deliveries and piloted a home delivery service for bulky goods.

  The SameDay Bot is relatively small (not to mention adorable) and won’t deliver furniture or appliances, but it does tick a lot the boxes for last-mile deliveries: battery-powered means zero emissions, ability to deliver same-day, and doesn’t require a driver.

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  Read more at : supplychaindive.com/news/fedex-autonomous-same-day-delivery-bot-last-mile/549341/

• AUTHOR

  Shefali Kapadia@skapadiaDC
• Source and credits :http://supplychaindive.com