FedEx Unveils Delivery Robots

AlphaAtlas

[H]ard|Gawd
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FedEx just unveiled a robot designed to make "last mile" deliveries without a (human) driver. SameDay Bot, as they call it, features a set of pivoting wheels that allow it to climv shallow stairs, traverse rough sidewalks, and move at speeds of up to 10 miles an hour, according to Reuters' report. FedEx says its working with partners like Walmart, Pizza Hut, AutoZone and Target to determine if "autonomous delivery to them is a viable option for fast, cheap deliveries." This robot can't throw your packages like a FedEx delivery man can, but don't worry, researchers are working on that too.

Check out a video of the robot here.

FedEx is teaming up with DEKA Development & Research Corp, whose founder Dean Kamen invented the Segway stand-up scooter and iBot stair-climbing wheelchair, for its project. The delivery company said the robots could become part of its SameDay service that operates in 1,900 cities around the world... The project must win approval in test cities, including the shipper's hometown of Memphis, and the first deliveries will be between FedEx office stores.
 
Better watch out for Rob Schneider...

JD-001.jpg
 
That thing looks so damn top heavy, new trend: delivery bot tipping, cows are old news.

They quite literally took the mobile platform for Dean Kamen's iBot stair climbing wheelchair (inventor of Segway), removed the seat, installed a box to hold delivery items and a computer to drive it . There is no way this thing will tip over without some force, as it can literally drive on 2 wheels and balance itself like a segway.


https://newatlas.com/toyota-ibot-wheelchair/43516/



Honestly, I think them taking an off-the-shelf solution is a spectacular idea. Hopefully it increases demand and production for economies of scale to lower the prices of the wheelchairs to an affordable price for the people that need them. Last time I checked, just one of these chairs cost upwards of $20,000.
 
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Will the robot get mad if I don't give it a tip? Maybe deliver the next pizza with all the cheese slid into one corner of the box? Might work for Fedex; maybe at least the packages won't get delivered crumpled. But I wonder if the other immediate delivery companies like pizzarias and such would shell out for those devices, even if they are more reliable than the current crop of delivery guys in broken down cars.
 
Who will sit in front of my house smoking weed for Half hour before marking my boxes undeliverable if the neighbor cat walks buy?

Do robots bring that to the table? I don't think so
 
Sounds like a lot of people have bad FedEx experiences, (and to be fair, I've seen my share of videos of bad deliveries, thrown boxes, etc. etc.) I've also had some bad UPS experiences...

My current FedEx driver though is amazing. He's called me up before when something was signature only, and asked me how I wanted to handle it, and has even driven packages over to my wife's work near our house, and handed them over to her after the fact. Too bad they aren't all like him.
 
The biggest issue with this is Humans. They tend to be scum of the earth and would either kick it, hit it with a bat, grab it and put it in their van, etc. They would not just leave it alone.

This is not going to turn out well and will be a waste of money in the long run.
 
Sounds like a lot of people have bad FedEx experiences, (and to be fair, I've seen my share of videos of bad deliveries, thrown boxes, etc. etc.) I've also had some bad UPS experiences...

My current FedEx driver though is amazing. He's called me up before when something was signature only, and asked me how I wanted to handle it, and has even driven packages over to my wife's work near our house, and handed them over to her after the fact. Too bad they aren't all like him.

Generally people want this level of service but aren't willing to pay for it. I'm still expecting robots to get hijacked and sold for parts.
 
On one hand I totally agree with all regarding the security of this thing. On the other(even though this is about FedEx), I think I'd like something like this over the USPS carriers we have where I live. Pretty sure that literacy is an optional requirement for them.
 
This will work, just need to have it connected to the police. So many arrests
 
This will work. They can hire someone for less than minimum wage to carry a baseball bat and walk along with the robot, picking up stuff as necessary.


P.S. They need to redo this commercial with footage from the beach landing in "Saving Private Ryan."

"AMMO! I need ammo! Where are my Combat Engineers?"

<queue music> "Laaa da da, laaaa da da da daaaa, laaa da da..."


P.P.S. No, wait, they need to redo this commercial in an Applebees! Even better. The couple place their order, then the music starts, and then the Fed Ex delivery bot brings their meal to the table. Later, as the man is paying at the register, he's looking at his slip and says, "What the fuck is this $23.00 charge for??" And the waitress smiles and says, "That's for Fed Ex delivery!"
 
2 things about that video.

1 - it didnt appear to need the woman to identify herself to the robot to get the package..odd

2 - if it wanted to be realistic, when it stopped for the dog, it would have shown the dog then peeing on its wheels

LOL
 
2 things about that video.

1 - it didnt appear to need the woman to identify herself to the robot to get the package..odd

2 - if it wanted to be realistic, when it stopped for the dog, it would have shown the dog then peeing on its wheels

LOL

Followed by a dog-taser extending from underneath and giving the dog a quick zap.
 
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