The Robby 2 on the show floor at CES 2018. Source: Peter Brown/Electronics360
Founded by MIT grads, Robby Technologies is a San Francisco Bay Area company focused on robot delivery as a service. In 2016, the company introduced self-driving robots for last-mile delivery to users’ doorsteps; this week at CES 2018, a second-generation version was introduced with what the company calls a human-friendly design that “invokes feelings of a small pet walking down the street.”
Designed to autonomously deliver food, groceries and packages to users’ doorsteps, the Robby 2 is equipped with six wheels and all-wheel drive capability. It can climb a hill with an incline up to 40 degrees, and boasts a range of 20-plus miles on a single battery charge. Its commitment to delivery in a range of conditions is further made possible by a water- and weather-resistant shell, plus infrared cameras and headlights that allow it to see and navigate in the dark. LEDs are also positioned on the front and rear of the bot to keep pedestrians aware of its directional movement.
According to the company, first-generation Robby bots have traveled over 3,000 miles and served hundreds of customers across California. It remains to be seen how Robby 2 will perform, but if its appealing looks are any indication you might want to order something just to see it being delivered.
