Amazon patents robotic couriers

Amazon has published a patent for autonomous ground vehicles (AGV) that retrieve parcels from delivery trucks and drop them off either at a customer’s front door or inside their home.

The box shaped robots look like those developed by Starship Technologies and feature imaging and proximity sensors and GPS, plus warning lights and mechanisms to assist with doors and gates. The patent's inventors are listed as Amazon Robotics Chief Technologist, Tye Brady and Senior Vice President of Twitch Commerce and Developer Success, Ethan Evans.

The patent states: “"AGVs may be stationed at various types of locations (e.g., inside or outside of user residences, common areas, etc.) and may travel out (e.g., to a street) to meet a transportation vehicle (e.g., a delivery truck) that is carrying items.”

Also of interest: Amazon takes online delivery to next level