Amazon has acquired Rivr Technologies AG, a delivery robot company based in Zurich, Switzerland.
The financial terms were not disclosed.
Amazon had already invested in Rivr before buying it. The company raised over $25 million in total funding and was valued at around $100 million.
The company trains its AI using different methods, including supervised and unsupervised learning. This helps the system learn and improve more effectively.
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Rivr’s main product is a four-legged robot called Rivr Two that moves on wheels. It is designed for last-mile delivery, meaning it carries packages from a warehouse to a customer’s home.
Amazon plans to focus on this use and will work with its delivery partners to test the robot. The company already uses a large network of delivery firms to ship packages.
The robot can be used in different ways. Stores can use it to deliver items directly to customers. Delivery drivers can also use it by sending the robot one way while they go another, helping deliver packages faster. It has safety features to prevent accidents, including lights for visibility, quick stopping, and a shutdown button.
Rivr’s technology may also be useful in other parts of Amazon’s operations, such as its supply chain. The robot runs on AI software that could help improve performance.
Rivr says its technology can be adapted for other types of robots as well. In one case, it adjusted its software for a new robot in just a week. This could help Amazon improve the AI of its large number of warehouse robots.
Rivr Two can carry more than 60 pounds of packages or food. It can move at up to 8.7 miles per hour, about twice the speed of walking. The robot can also stop at red lights, open gates, and climb stairs.
In 2020, Amazon bought a self-driving startup, Zoox, for $1.2 billion, and is now testing its vehicles in several cities. In the future, Amazon could combine self-driving vans with Rivr robots to fully automate deliveries.
Rivr’s CEO said the deal will help accelerate the company’s goal of deploying robots and AI in real-world delivery. With Amazon’s support, the robots could reach more customers faster.
Rivr, based in Zurich, is known for its stair-climbing delivery robot. The deal shows Amazon’s growing interest in using robots for doorstep delivery, though the terms were not shared.
The company’s CEO, Marko Bjelonic, announced the news on LinkedIn. He once described the robot as “a dog on roller skates.”
Last year, Rivr tested its robots in Austin with a delivery company. The goal was to learn from the pilot and expand to more robots in the future, though it’s unclear if that target was reached.
Amazon said it is still in the early stages and will continue testing the technology while collecting feedback to improve and expand it.
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