Amazon"s Scout, a completely autonomous robot delivery service that the Seattle firm launched in January 2019, is now undergoing trials in Atlanta, Georgia, and Franklin, Tennessee. Until now, the service had been making deliveries to a small subset of customers in select locations.
Amazon hasn"t stated how many customers Scout will service or how many robots are on the road. But for a company whose reputation relies on speedy and reliable delivery, Amazon is treating the project with caution. Currently, a "small number of Amazon Scout devices" are operating Monday through Friday during daylight hours in the new locations.
Customers in both areas can continue to order as they normally would, and their packages will arrive either by Amazon"s carrier partners or by Amazon Scout, with the same delivery options being available for the latter. Although the robots navigate autonomously, they are accompanied by Amazon Scout Ambassadors.
Delivery robots have become increasingly popular in recent years, and with the advent of coronavirus, the interest in the technology has surged yet again, as companies are seeking ways to minimize human interaction, such as contactless deliveries and curbside pickup services. The Seattle firm stated that Scout"s trials have continued amidst the pandemic, assisting the firm to “meet increased customer demand by supplementing our transportation network.”