Segway, the unit of Ninebot, is gearing up to launch a self-driving delivery robot aimed at the last mile of delivery.
According to a report in Engadget, Segway-Ninebot is expected to announce the delivery robot during CES 2019, the consumer electronics trade show held in Las Vegas every year. Dubbed the Loomo Delivery robot, it relies on artificial intelligence to deliver packages autonomously to their final destinations. The idea, according to the report, is to unleash the bot in office buildings and malls to deliver packages. The bot has a built-in camera and uses algorithms to get around and avoid obstacles in its path. Engadget noted the bot won't enter the mainstream market anytime soon, and is more of a novelty at this point.
During CES, Segway is also expected to show off the Model Max, its latest-generation scooter for the sharing economy. The Model Max builds upon the success Segway has had with developing bikes for the scooter-sharing market. The new scooter is expected to be more weather-resistant with increased safety and reliability features. The report noted that the enhanced safety features will be welcome given that Lime, the scooter-sharing service, was forced to recall thousands of Segway scooters that could burst into flames.
Segway isn't the only company eyeing the delivery market as its next bastion of growth. With speedy delivery becoming the expectation in cities around the world, there are opportunities for manufacturers to cash in. Take Postmates, the delivery company. It recently announced the upcoming launch of Serve, a semi-autonomous robot that uses cameras and Lidar to deliver food orders on city streets. The bot is also controlled remotely by a human, who can step in and take over control if necessary. Customers unlock the cargo hatch via their smartphone or passcode to access their food. Serve is coming to Los Angeles and other cities during 2019.
