World’s first: Penguin-like delivery robot fleet rides trains to courier goods in China

 

Shenzhen, China, has introduced a groundbreaking logistics system featuring penguin-like delivery robots that utilize the city's subway network. Developed by VX Logistics, a subsidiary of China's Vanke Group, these autonomous robots are designed to ride trains alongside passengers,

       

         

 exit at designated stations, and deliver goods to shops within the metro system, such as 7-Eleven stores.

     

        

         

This innovative approach represents a "middle-mile" automation solution, differing from typical last-mile delivery robots. The robots, resembling penguins for a user-friendly aesthetic, are equipped with panoramic lidar for navigation and an AI-powered dispatching system to optimize routes. They navigate obstacles like elevators and train gaps with precision. The initiative aims to reduce labor costs, ease surface-level congestion, and provide a more sustainable alternative for replenishing underground convenience stores. The project is part of Shenzhen's "Embodied Intelligent Robot Action Plan" to expand the use of service and industrial robots.