Imagine a robot getting out of a van to deliver a package to you. This science-fiction scenario is already being tested. Amazon is currently training humanoids for autonomous delivery.
Automation is playing an increasingly central role in the strategies of large companies. In the logistics sector, this translates into the massive arrival of intelligent machines capable of performing complex tasks without human intervention. Amazon is one of the giants investing the most in this area. For several years, the company has already been using robots in its warehouses to sort, move, and pack orders. Today, it wants to go further by giving machines the ultimate mission: delivering the package directly to your door.
According to The Information, Amazon is currently developing a fleet of humanoid robots designed to make home deliveries. They would be transported in electric vans produced by Rivian, a longtime manufacturing partner. Once they arrive in your neighborhood, they would get out of the vehicle and deliver the packages to your door themselves. The project has already reached a major milestone: the construction of a training center in San Francisco. This facility, the size of a small cafe, simulates real-life environments with obstacles, sidewalks, doors, and stairs to test the machines' capabilities. 
Amazon trains its humanoid robots to deliver packages from its Rivian electric vans
In this center, Amazon is experimenting with several models, including “Digit” from the company Agility Robotics. Already used in warehouses, this bipedal robot is designed to interact with human environments. Amazon is also testing a Chinese model made by Unitree, sold for $16,000, or about €14,800. The robot is trained to identify an address, navigate obstacles, and place a package without damaging it. Eventually, several humanoids could work in parallel to ensure a sustained delivery rate. This development could eventually replace thousands of employees dedicated to last-mile logistics. Amazon says these robots will need to understand voice instructions and adapt to unforeseen situations. The company has set up a dedicated artificial intelligence team to develop these functions. It wants assistants capable of interpreting natural language, like a human. Furthermore, the acquisition of Zoox, a specialist in autonomous vehicles, shows that the brand is aiming for complete automation, from the distribution center to your doorstep.
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