Vayu Robotics has launched the Vayu One, the world’s first on-road delivery robot, in San Francisco.
According to Forbes, the company has already signed an agreement with a large, unnamed e-commerce company for 2,500 robots, promising faster delivery services.
Introducing the Vayu One
The Vayu One looks like a mini delivery truck, about waist-high and six feet long. It can carry up to 100 pounds of different-sized packages to multiple destinations, traveling at a top speed of 20 miles per hour.
Unlike other delivery robots, Vayu One does not use lidar for guidance. Instead, it relies on cameras and Vayu’s proprietary AI mobility software, and it responds to voice commands.
Vayu Robotics says the Vayu One is the first delivery robot designed to operate on public roads. They have obtained the necessary regulatory permissions, which will vary by city and state across the United States.
Ideal for Mid-Sized Deliveries
This on-road delivery robot is designed to fill a niche in delivery needs, providing a solution that’s not too big or too small. Small, time-sensitive packages are ideal for airborne drones, while large, heavy items require traditional delivery vehicles.
Vayu One targets mid-sized packages, such as groceries or medium-sized electronics, which are too large for drones but don’t require a full-sized delivery truck.
Vayu One navigates using bike paths and sidewalks, and while it doesn't deliver directly to the door, it ensures that customers receive the correct package. This might pose a challenge for residents in condos or high-rises, as they need to retrieve their deliveries from the robot.
Tech Innovations
Interestingly, Vayu One does not use lidar, despite Vayu Robotics' CEO and co-founder Anand Gopalan being the former CEO of lidar manufacturer Velodyne.
Instead, it uses passive sensors and AI for navigation. AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton serves as an advisor to Vayu Robotics.
Vayu Robotics emphasizes that Vayu One is distinct from other delivery robots, such as those from Starship Technologies and Nuro, which primarily operate on sidewalks. Vayu One is designed for on-road use, solving challenges that have hindered delivery robots for the past decade, according to Gopalan.
The company's ambitions extend beyond delivery robots.
Gopalan mentioned that Vayu’s software could also enable the movement of quadrupedal and bipedal robots, suggesting further market expansion in the future.
