Amazon Scout is an autonomous robot, that makes deliveries to your door
While drones are making headlines as a possible delivery system, Amazon is taking a different tact — a new device called Amazon Scout , an autonomous, electric robot that delivers your package by rolling right to your door.
This cute, little baby blue wagon has the basic 'Prime' logo on it and is roughly the size and shape of a cooler. Amazon Scout also has an electric battery and six wheels that help it roll around on the sidewalk at a walking pace — no worries of high pace danger here. The company started testing the robot first in Snohomish County, WA.
Right now, there are about six 'Scouts' out in the world and they're doing their part by delivering packages Monday through Friday during the day. At first, they'll be carefully watched by an Amazon employee, making sure they won't run into pedestrians, animals or anything else they may come across in a residential neighborhood.
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Rolling delivery bots aren't entirely new. Starship Technologies started delivering meals to employees at the financial software firm Intuit Lin 2018, in Mountain View, CA. The delivery bots bear a striking resemblance, in fact to Amazon's Scout, six wheels and all — and are the same devices at work at the University of Virginia where 25 robots are bringing food and drinks to students studying hard.
Certainly drones are being tested to deliver from pizza to burritos — no word on how these food items handle the drop off — to customers.
Amazon Scout was first developed in the company's research and development lab in Seattle, WA., with the goal to provide a more sustainable and clean way to deliver the company's packages throughout the country. Customers can place orders through Amazon's web site or on its app, and request same-day, one-day and two-day shipping among other options.
"We are delighted to welcome Amazon Scout into our community," said Snohomish County executive Dave Somers. "Similar to Amazon, we are always looking for new ways to better deliver service to our readers. From the latest Amazon innovation to cutting edge technology, Snohomish County is a great place for entrepreneurial creativity."
(Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility checker to see the other compatible products that work with Amazon Alexa enabled devices.)
