Amazon is quietly advancing its logistics strategy by integrating autonomous driving with humanoid robots, potentially transforming the delivery industry. According to insiders, Amazon plans to test humanoid robots at its San Francisco office's "Humanoid Park" to replace some delivery jobs and reduce operating costs. A Rivian electric van is already stationed there to evaluate robot-vehicle interactions, mirroring the development path of autonomous vehicles.
The "Humanoid Park," akin to a coffee shop in size, is nearing completion. It serves as an indoor obstacle course to simulate real delivery scenarios and test the robots' capabilities. Amazon's drive towards automation is fueled by the need to control costs, as it employs hundreds of thousands of delivery workers.
Amazon's ultimate goal is to combine humanoid robots with autonomous vehicles, enhancing efficiency by assisting human drivers. The company currently uses over 20,000 Rivian electric vehicles for deliveries, aiming to expand to 100,000 by 2030. Additionally, Zoox, acquired by Amazon in 2020, has been developing autonomous technology, initially focusing on robotaxis but previously designing autonomous delivery vehicles.
Amazon collaborates with other companies for robot hardware, focusing on AI software development. This summer, it plans to test various humanoid robots, including those from Unitree Robotics, to gather diverse data for training new models. The AI team is developing foundational models to enhance robots' understanding and planning capabilities in complex environments.
