Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.43
FedEx Corp. is shutting down its robotic same-day delivery service, according to an internal memo obtained by Robotics 24/7. In an e-mail sent to FedEx employees this week, Sriram Krishnasam, chief transformation officer at FedEx, said the company was eliminating Roxo, the FedEx Sameday Bot, as part of an internal organizational program called DRIVE. Amazon.com Inc. also announced this week that it is scaling back its own robot delivery service. “Although robotics and automation are key pillars of our innovation strategy, Roxo did not meet necessary near-term value requirements for DRIVE,” Krishnasam wrote. “Although we are ending the research and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.41
…without a safety driver behind the wheel in a delivery route for Walmart in Bentonville, Ark. The driverless deliveries are moving customer orders between a Walmart “dark store” and a Neighborhood Market with a fleet of multi-temperature autonomous box trucks. “Through our work with Gatik, we’ve identified that autonomous box trucks offer an efficient, safe, and sustainable solution for transporting goods on repeatable routes between our stores,” said Tom Ward, senior vice president of last mile at Walmart U.S. “We’re thrilled to be working with Gatik to achieve this industry-first, driverless milestone in our home state of Arkansas and look…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.31
…did say that the investment came after successful drone deliveries of COVID-19 self-testing kits. “In our ongoing effort to get customers the items they want, and fast, we know it will take a well-coordinated network of delivery solutions that span the streets, sidewalks, and skies,” wrote John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., in a blog post. “Some of these solutions are still emerging, but they’re already showing encouraging results.” Virginia Beach, Va.-based DroneUp provides flight services, data analysis, and equipment. It also offers drone program development, regulatory consulting, and training. The company claimed it has a database of…
Found in Robotics White Papers & Archives, with a score of 3.18
…we're also starting to see more robust picking and last-mile delivery systems. Whether you're just getting started or are considering scaling automation, remember that robot software and fleet management are important—as are your own processes. In this Special Focus Issue, we look at how asset management, artificial intelligence, and financing options can help companies of various sizes. In addition, we examine the difference between mico-fulfillment and hyperlocal fulfillment, two buzzworthy phrases in groceries and e-commerce, but not limited to those sectors. Here are just some of the topics in this free download: Mobile Robot Adoption by Warehouses Will Surge to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.17
Walmart’s drone delivery service is now available for select customers in the Tampa, Orlando, Dallas, and Phoenix areas. This marks the first time customers in these regions can take advantage of Walmart’s drone deliveries, following the retailer’s earlier announcement of plans to expand its network with DroneUp to reach 4 million additional households across six states. From last-minute meal solutions to a package of Christmas cookies, Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart said it has successfully executed thousands of same-day drone deliveries to date. “Drone delivery makes it possible for our customers to shop those last-minute or forgotten items with ease, in a…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.13
Last mile of the race Something once so innovative as two-day delivery has led to next-day delivery, which is quickly becoming obsolete as consumers demand same-day delivery. This trend has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially as more consumers become comfortable with online ordering of perishable items and groceries. One of the significant changes in supply chain strategies we are seeing as a result of this is the rise of fulfillment centers that bring fulfillment closer to the consumer. Fulfillment centers Typically, one of the dominant components in a company’s supply chain was the large warehouse or distribution center that…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.08
…a handful of customer applications, including Starbucks and Grubhub deliveries. Cartken CEO Chris Bersch said that he and co-founders Jonas Witt, Jake Stelman, and Anjali Jindal Naik got excited about the prospect for robots because of the technology’s readiness and affordability. The four Google alumni decided the timing was right and founded the Oakland, Calif.-based company in 2019. “What we saw was a technological inflection point where we could make small, self-driving vehicles work on the street,” said Bersch. “Because it doesn’t make sense to build a $20,000 robot that can deliver burritos.” Revenue from robotic last-mile deliveries is expected…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.08
What is Hyperlocal Fulfillment? Inner-city congestion and rising delivery costs. Increasing demand for instant fulfillment. Skyrocketing prices for conventional distribution center real estate. The Rise of Ecommerce The four horsemen of the retail apocalypse have come together to give logistics managers a real nightmare. How do you fulfill customer orders in this environment while still maintaining an acceptable profit margin? Here's a hint. You don't always do it by continuing distribution operations out of remote, gigantic DCs. Over the past couple of years, logistics managers desperate to conquer the last-mile challenge have been trying out a new model that turns…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.08
Drone deliveries are starting to become more common, thanks to careful collaboration. Flytrex Inc. today announced the expansion of its drone delivery service to Holly Springs, N.C. The Fayetteville, N.C.-based provider said it has partnered with local authorities and restaurant chains to begin delivering food to front and back yards in the neighborhood of Forest Springs. Flytrex will bring orders to dozens of households in the area that have opted into the service. The company added that it will conduct all flights under Part 107, within visual line of sight, following the highest U.S. safety standards. “We are soaring into…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.92
…gas prices affect the cost of food and third-party delivery services. More eateries are turning to robot deliveries from providers such as Coco from Cyan Robotics Inc. Coco has been working with C3 by SBE, short for Creating Culinary Communities, which is held by SBEEG Holdings Licensing LLC or SBE, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based operator of hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs worldwide. C3 is also working with Nommi, which has developed bowl-assembling robots. The global market for delivery robots could expand from $100.8 million in 2021 to $262.7 million by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.31%, according to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.80
…Administration for waivers allowing them to conduct tests of deliveries, drone air-traffic systems, long-range flights and other uses generally prohibited under current rules, Kratsios said. “These partnerships will allow local communities to experiment with new technologies like package deliveries”Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao The move is the latest attempt to jump-start an industry in which technology has moved at a rapid clip - only to be held back by regulatory and safety concerns. The government adopted rules allowing routine commercial flights last year, but with rare exceptions, it limited operations to short distances and ordered that they are kept away from…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 2.78
…Technologies to add safety and security measures to autonomous delivery robots in the U.K. The companies claimed that the authentication and re-verification services will enable the “first fully autonomous end-to-end delivery service for age-restricted items.” “Partnering with Veriff allows Starship to autonomously deliver age-restricted items in the U.K. and beyond as we continue to take on new markets and stores at a rapid pace,” said Ryan Tuohy, senior vice president of business development and sales at Starship Technologies. “We are excited to work with Veriff in providing the highest quality Identity Verification solutions for our users to ensure their safety…