FedEx trials driverless last-mile delivery with Nuro

FedEx has partnered with robotics company Nuro to trial last-mile driverless deliveries.

Starting in Houston, Texas, the two companies will be testing various possibilities for autonomous vehicles in logistics, such as multi-stop deliveries and deliveries by appointment.

Nuro was founded in 2016 and focuses on small vehicles that make safe local deliveries in neighbourhoods. Its robots are bristling with tech including 360-degree cameras, Lidar, radar and ultrasonic sensors, allowing them to map their surroundings.

Credit: FedEx

Nuro has previously partnered with pharmaceutical, restaurant and grocery companies, but this represents its first major step into parcel logistics.

FedEx described the partnership as “a multi-year, multi-phase agreement”. It’s early days yet, with the trial launched this last April, but FedEx said it’s looking ahead to the possibilities of large-scale deployment.

Source: FedEx