The RIVR mobile robot is equipped with a secure package-carrying ‘backpack.’ | Credit: RIVR
The future of e-commerce delivery is rolling into Austin. Veho Tech Inc., an alternative parcel-delivery platform, has teamed up with Swiss robotics innovator RIVR to launch a robotic delivery pilot program.
This partnership marks RIVR’s inaugural deployment of its legged and wheeled robots in the U.S. The systems will tackle real-world e-commerce deliveries that include navigating stairs, porches, and uneven terrain, not just limited to sidewalks.
The pilot program will deploy RIVR’s robots alongside Veho’s human couriers, with each robot capable of delivering up to 200 packages daily. A RIVR operator will support the robot, while a remote team monitors its performance during actual deliveries.
This initiative is made possible by Veho’s operational footprint and established infrastructure in cities such as Austin, along with its preferred partner status with major brands like Saks Fifth Avenue, Stitch Fix, and Nespresso.
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Delivery robots intended to complement humans
The quad-wheeled robots are not designed to replace human delivery drivers, said Veho and RIVR. Instead, the companies aim to enhance human efficiency, enabling couriers to deliver more parcels faster and with less physical strain. Veho said it expects to the robots to uphold the “superior delivery experience” it is known for.
The synergy between human and robot couriers is expected to be particularly valuable in dense urban areas where parking is often limited.
On a typical day, while a human driver completes one drop-off, a RIVR robot can concurrently deliver another. It can navigate directly from the delivery vehicle to the customer’s doorstep, place parcels according to instructions, and provide photographic proof via the Veho app.
Veho, RIVR take on last-mile delivery challenge
“With the exponential rise in e-commerce, the last mile has become the most critical—and complex—link in the logistics chain,” stated Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR. “At RIVR, our mission is to put 1 million delivery robots into the field, leveraging general physical AI to scale urban robotics to where it’s needed most.”
“Our partnership with Veho is a major milestone on that journey to bring our technology to the U.S.,” he added. “As a leading parcel-delivery platform in the U.S., Veho offers the ideal environment for deploying at scale—helping us deliver not just faster and more cost-effective service, but a smarter, more human-centered model for robotics in logistics.”
Earlier this year, RIVR launched through a major rebranding from its roots as Swiss Mile. RIVR claims to have “solved the last-100-yard challenge” through its wheeled/legged design and physical AI, enabling the robot to overcome real-world obstacles to the customer’s doorstep including stairs, gates, and uneven terrain.
The company said this distinguishes its systems from sidewalk-bound robots, allowing for a higher throughput and commercial viability in dense, multi-drop delivery scenarios.
While drones offer the opportunity to reach homes in rural areas, RIVR’s design is specifically tailored for the intricate and large-scale demands of urban logistics, automating the final few meters of every delivery. The partners said they expect the Austin pilot to provide valuable insights for potential expansion into additional markets later this year.
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