Amazon Scout delivery robot is coming to the UK
Amazon is developing its Amazon Scout vehicles for use in the UK following the coronavirus powered boom in online shopping.
Work is taking place at its Cambridge centre.
"Our investment in this new Amazon Scout team in the UK, which will consist of dozens of engineers, is driven by our partnership with the Cambridge community and made possible by the talented people who live here," the US e-commerce giant said.
“The team we’re building will work closely with the Amazon Scout research lab in Seattle, US to develop on-system software to help Scout delivery devices safely and autonomously navigate around pedestrians, pets, and obstacles found in residential neighbourhoods such as recycling bins and sign posts,” it added.
The company is hiring software development engineers with experience in robotics and autonomous systems technology, further info on which can be found here.
Amazon unveiled the six-wheel delivery robot last year and has been slowly expanding its field tests in the US.
After launching in a single neighbourhood in Snohomish County, Washington and then adding a larger site in Irvine, California last August, Scout moved on to trials in Atlanta, Georgia and Franklin, Tennessee.
“We are starting with a small number of Amazon Scout devices in each city, delivering Monday through Friday, during daylight hours. Customers in both areas will order just as they normally would and their Amazon packages will be delivered either by one of our trusted carrier partners or by Amazon Scout,” Amazon said in a blog post.
“The same delivery options are available, including fast, free same-day, one-day, and two-day shipping for Prime members. The devices will autonomously follow their delivery route, and initially be accompanied by an Amazon Scout Ambassador.”
“Expanding our field test to Atlanta and Franklin is one of the many steps forward for this new delivery system and on our path to net zero carbon by 2040,” the blog post added.
“During a time when so many of our customers rely on us to get what they need, bringing Scout to these new locations supplements our transportation network and increases our capacity to deliver what our customers want: great selection, low prices, and fast shipping speeds.”