Amazon Explores the Future of Delivery with Humanoid Robot Trials

As reported by The Details, Amazon is making strides in the realm of artificial intelligence with its latest project: humanoid robots designed for package delivery. These innovative machines are set to undergo testing at Amazon’s San Francisco offices, where a unique indoor “humanoid park” is being constructed—about the size of your favorite local coffee shop.

The initial phase will see these robots navigating an obstacle course to assess their capabilities. Following this, they’ll venture into the real world on what Amazon calls “field trips,” delivering packages directly to customers’ doorsteps. Picture this: a human operator driving an electric Rivian van, and when they reach a destination, the robot hops out to drop off the package.

Amazon has been no stranger to automation; over recent years, it has rolled out various robots within its fulfillment centers and has been piloting delivery drones in states like Texas and Arizona since 2024.Just last month,they unveiled a new robot that can identify items by touch—perfect for picking and stowing products from those tricky storage bins that are hard to reach.These automated helpers also transport heavy loads across warehouse floors and sort items efficiently into totes while creating custom-sized packages tailored for each order.

in October 2023, Amazon introduced Digit—a humanoid robot developed by Agility Robotics—and began trials in warehouses early in 2024. This nifty machine can move around adeptly and assist human workers with repetitive tasks such as handling empty totes. While testing continues at fulfillment centers, Agility aims high with plans to manufacture up to 10,000 of these robots annually for warehouse use.