Ford knows that autonomous cars will be used in a big way for delivery services. People who buy stuff online don’t always have time or the desire to walk out to the road to get their packages off the autonomous delivery vehicle. So the automotive and mobility company is working on solutions for those last 50 feet to the door.
Ford recently teamed with Agility Robotics to create a robot called Digit. The ‘bot can carry up to 40 pounds to your door, though it will probably terrorize small children and pets whilst doing it.
Digit is a bipedal robot that can navigate the environment that most humans use every day. It’s made of lightweight materials for long battery life and can fold to store in the trunk of a vehicle until needed. The robot has minimal sensors using only stereo cameras and LiDAR to navigate. Ford says when needed, it can connect to bigger robots with more powerful sensors.
Ford hasn’t announced any delivery partners who plan on using Digit as of yet, but robot delivery people bringing packages to our doors could happen as soon as next year.
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