Boston Dynamics is trying to use “robot dogs” in deliveries

While attempts have already been made to speed up and automate deliveries using wheeled robots or drones, humans are still the most efficient way to navigate obstacles such as stairs or crowded aisles in order to deliver packages from truck to doorstep. A demo video shows a driver unloading packages onto Spot for doorstep distribution, and Boston Dynamics hopes it will be efficient enough to justify purchasing one of the roughly $75,000 robots.

Boston Dynamics says it is “already in talks with major logistics companies about testing Spot for its last-mile delivery solution” and its current goal is to move from these demonstrations to a full pilot project.

Spot’s unique ability to climb over uneven terrain and navigate through complex obstacles could facilitate his use as a delivery assistant. The robot is already frequently used to help comb through debris as part of search and rescue operations, and Boston Dynamics believes these capabilities could make it well-suited for navigating the “unstructured environments of suburban neighborhoods” where the path from sidewalk to front door is rarely unobstructed.

The robot will not only help reduce physical stress on delivery drivers, but will also give them more time to do other tasks such as preparing the next delivery while Spot unloads its current load, which could increase its capacity. “For every three packages delivered through Spot, we think we can add another package to the truck,” says Paige Miller, Spot senior product manager for Boston Dynamics.