Boston Dynamics Tests Conveyor Belt Accessory for Spot to Handle Last-Meter Package Delivery

Boston Dynamics is testing a conveyor belt accessory for its quadruped robot Spot that can carry packages and autonomously unload them at doorsteps, aiming to reduce delivery drivers' workload.

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Boston Dynamics is experimenting with a new accessory for its quadruped robot Spot that could help with last-meter package delivery. The company has developed a conveyor belt module that attaches to Spot, allowing it to carry parcels and automatically unload them at a doorstep, according to a company announcement.

The goal is to reduce the workload of delivery drivers, who currently must exit their vehicles and carry packages to the door. Spot is already deployed in other roles, such as factory inspections and patrolling the ruins of Pompeii.

Previous attempts to automate the final leg of delivery have relied on wheeled robots or aerial drones. However, Boston Dynamics acknowledges that humans remain the most efficient option for navigating obstacles like stairs or cluttered pathways in the last meter.

The company published a demonstration video showing the conveyor belt system in action.