Where two-legged delivery robots will appear in South Yorkshire as part of Evri pilot
Delivery robots have returned to the streets of South Yorkshire - this time with two legs
Two-legged robots have appeared on streets as part of a trial between a robotics firm and couriers Evri.
The wheel-clad delivery robots have appeared on the streets of Barnsley as part of a new trial exploring whether the technology could help get parcels to houses.
Evri has teamed up with robotics company Refined Robotics to test the machines in what the companies describe as Europe’s first trial of a two-legged delivery robot.
The robots, designed specifically for outdoor “last-mile” deliveries, can carry parcels weighing up to 15kg and travel at speeds of up to 6km/h.
Unlike the smaller, six-wheeled delivery robots recently seen in Sheffield, the two-legged machines are designed to cope with obstacles such as stairs and uneven ground.
Evri said their innovative design also allows them to enter and leave delivery vans, with the robot able to operate autonomously or be remotely monitored.
The trial will see Evri assess how the technology performs in residential environments and whether it could complement its existing delivery network.
The company has stressed that the technology is intended to support its couriers rather than replace them.
The trial comes shortly after a separate delivery robot pilot in Sheffield came to an end following five months of operation.
Starship Technologies launched its small autonomous robots in Sheffield in March to deliver food for Uber Eats, including in areas such as Meersbrook and Heeley.
The robots became the subject of controversy after a number were vandalised.
Black graffiti reading “off our streets” was sprayed across some of the machines, while visibility flags attached to the robots were snapped off. A charging station was also defaced and traffic cones were reportedly placed behind robots in an apparent attempt to stop them moving.
Starship later confirmed it had paused the Sheffield service while it reviewed the results of the pilot. The company said the vandalism was not responsible for the decision to end the trial.
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Evri was asked whether it had concerns about similar incidents occurring during its Barnsley trial, to which the company said there would be someone with the robot at all times.
Marcus Hunter, chief technology officer at Evri Group, said: “Launching Europe’s first trial of a two-legged delivery robot in Barnsley is an exciting milestone. Barnsley has built a reputation as a place where innovation thrives and new technologies can be tested in real-world environments.
“Our couriers remain at the heart of our business. We’re committed to exploring how innovation can support them, improve operational efficiency and help us continue offering customers even more choice, convenience and control in the future.”
Nick Hafner, chief executive of Refined Robotics, said: “Our two-legged delivery robot has been specifically designed to tackle some of the most complex challenges in last-mile logistics.
“Its ability to navigate stairs, uneven surfaces and outdoor environments makes it uniquely suited to supporting parcel delivery operations in real-world settings.”