RIVR teams up with Veho for robot deliveries

(CONNECT) The Zurich-based start-up RIVR has entered into a strategic partnership with the American parcel service provider Veho from Austin in the US state of Texas. The wheeled robot from RIVR is intended to automate parcel delivery over the last hundred meters and make the work of delivery staff easier, according to a press release.

The wheeled robot, which is supported by artificial intelligence (General Physical AI), will be assigned this delivery task and the delivery person will be able to carry out other tasks. The robot from RIVR can autonomously navigate to its destination, climb stairs and carry loads of up to 60 kilograms. A pilot project is currently being carried out in Austin.

Veho is one of the fastest growing alternative parcel services, according to the press release. The company is already active in 50 metropolitan regions and relies primarily on a technology-supported network.

"In view of the exponential growth of e-commerce, optimizing logistics on the last mile is more important than ever," Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR, is quoted as saying in the press release. “Our partnership with Veho is an important step towards using urban robotics where it is needed most.” Itamar Zur, co-founder and CEO of Veho, sees the partnership with RIVR as the next step in optimizing e-commerce and “turning shipping from a cost factor into a value driver”. ce/ww