Rivr’s Robot Dogs Join Veho Vans for Final Parcel Delivery in Austin

Most delivery automation ends at the curb, but Veho and Swiss robotics startup Rivr are tackling the more difficult final 100 yards—from the van to the doorstep.

Austin Pilot to Test Rivr’s Stair-Climbing Delivery Robot

Launching this week in Austin, a pilot program will deploy Rivr’s four-wheeled, stair-climbing robot—described by CEO Marko Bjelonic as “a dog on roller skates”—to deliver packages directly from Veho vans to customers’ front doors. Initially, just one supervised robot will operate for several hours a day over a few weeks.

Bjelonic says this phase of last-mile delivery poses a challenge that’s simple for humans but complex for robots, and solving it could push robotics beyond sidewalk bots. The partnership also allows Rivr to gather data for developing a broader physical AI system—something he says is lacking in the robotics field due to the absence of large-scale training datasets.

For Veho, which operates in 50 U.S. markets for brands like Sephora and HelloFresh, this test could lead to more efficient delivery—especially in dense areas—by letting robots and drivers cover more ground together. Rivr’s bots could also ease drivers’ workloads by handling the most physically demanding part of the job.

Rivr Staff to Escort Robot During Austin Pilot for Safety and Support

During the Austin pilot, a Rivr staff member will accompany the robot to monitor safety and ensure smooth deliveries. Although the bots are capable of autonomous operation, remote operators can intervene if one gets stuck, CEO Marko Bjelonic told TechCrunch.

The trial will begin in the more suburban Northwest Austin area and later expand to denser neighborhoods, according to Veho co-founder and CTO Fred Cook. Looking ahead, Cook envisions pairing delivery vans with onboard charging stations to keep the robots powered throughout the day.

Rivr aims to use insights from the Veho collaboration to scale up—targeting 100 robots by next year and thousands by 2027. The company is also active in the U.K. via a partnership with delivery service Evri and has raised over $25 million, including a Jeff Bezos-led investment round that valued Rivr at $100 million.

Read the original article: TechCrunch

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