Boston Dynamics’ Spot Will Solve E-Commerce’s “Porch Gap”: It Will Carry Packages Up Stairs
Boston Dynamics is testing its four-legged robot Spot for use in the final 50-foot stretch between the delivery vehicle and the customer’s door, one of the most challenging stages of e-commerce and retail deliveries. In the process the company defines as the “porch gap,” Spot takes packages from the delivery vehicle, carries them across sidewalks, stairs, and uneven surfaces, and leaves them at the correct address.
Robotic Support for Drivers With Spot
In a demonstration released by Boston Dynamics, Spot steps down from the back of the delivery vehicle. The driver loads two packages onto a conveyor mounted on the robot. Spot then moves through the neighborhood, carefully leaves the packages at the doors of two different homes, and returns to the vehicle.
Marco da Silva, Vice President and General Manager of Spot at Boston Dynamics, stated that a significant part of logistics has been automated, but the “final frontier” of automation is the remaining 50 feet to the customer’s door. Spot is intended to reduce the physical burden on drivers and enable more packages to be delivered within the same period.
According to the company, last-mile delivery accounts for more than half of total supply chain costs. U.S. carriers are reported to spend approximately 90 billion dollars annually on last-mile package delivery.
Why Will Spot Be Used for Last-Mile Delivery?
Snow, ice, gravel, stairs, sidewalks, trash bins, and different door designs in suburban areas create non-standard conditions for robots. Paige Miller, Senior Product Manager for Spot, stated that drones struggle to deliver packages directly to the door, while wheeled robots have difficulty navigating uneven terrain. Spot’s legged structure provides mobility in these areas.
The robot can carry two 16x12x10-inch packages at the same time. Boston Dynamics estimates that these dimensions could cover at least 60 percent of the packages in an average delivery vehicle. Miller said that for every three packages delivered by Sp ot, one additional package could be added to the vehicle.
Packages Will Be Delivered With a Sensor-Equipped Conveyor
Spot’s conveyor includes stopping sensors and a movable tray that reduces the speed at which packages are released. The system allows packages carried in the same load to be delivered to different addresses. To test delivery precision, the team also had Spot carry a carton of eggs.
In the initial phase, routes will be recorded under the driver’s control, after which Sp ot will autonomously repeat the routes to known addresses. Orbit software is planned to be used for route optimization, customer preferences, and the management of robot operations. Orbit provides AI-powered insights for managing autonomous robots.
A Full-Scale Pilot Program Is Planned
Boston Dynamics is conducting testing discussions with major logistics companies. The company’s goal is to launch a full-scale pilot program in which Sp ot, working alongside a driver, delivers 200 packages per day, five days a week. During the initial period, remote operators are planned to remain available to ensure safety and intervene if the robot becomes stuck.