Amazon Testing Humanoid Robots for Deliveries with Rivian Vans—The Future of Last-Mile Logistics?

Amazon is taking another giant leap into the future of logistics. The tech giant is reportedly developing software to power Amazon’s humanoid delivery robots that could literally spring out of vans to deliver packages, according to a report by The Information. The company, already a leader in logistics automation, is testing these robots inside a newly established “humanoid park” in San Francisco—essentially an indoor obstacle course designed to simulate real-world delivery scenarios. The concept? Robots are riding in Amazon’s Rivian electric delivery vans and hopping out to drop packages at customers’ doors, even while a human driver is still en route to the next stop.

Will Robots Replace Human Delivery Drivers?

The development signals a potential seismic shift in the way Amazon handles the notoriously complex “last-mile delivery” segment, often the most expensive and labour-intensive part of the delivery process. With over 20,000 Rivian vans currently in use across the U.S., Amazon could theoretically deploy humanoid robots at scale if the technology proves reliable.

While Amazon is building the AI software in-house, the robot hardware is being sourced from external companies, including Agility Robotics, whose “Digit” robot is already in limited use in Amazon warehouses. These robots mimic human form and movement, offering a versatile alternative to traditional wheeled delivery bots.

But don’t expect to see robots dodging traffic and scaling staircases just yet. Amazon’s “humanoid park” is only a starting point, and real-world deployments will follow a cautious rollout strategy. The robots will first undergo “field trips” to actual homes to test performance outside of controlled environments.

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Challenges of Going Beyond the Park

Experts are cautiously optimistic. According to Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy, chair of robot learning and autonomy at the University of Edinburgh, while the technology is rapidly improving, the challenge lies in navigating complex, unpredictable environments—think winding pathways, pets, children, and non-standard doorways.

“If Amazon restricts the scope—like limiting deliveries to homes with clear driveways and standard layouts—it’s definitely doable,” Ramamoorthy said. “But full-scale deployment across all types of households will be significantly more complex.”

Amazon’s Automation Ecosystem Expands

This isn’t Amazon’s first foray into autonomous delivery. Its Zoox subsidiary is developing self-driving vehicles, while Prime Air continues testing drone deliveries—especially after securing UK permission to fly beyond visual line-of-sight in 2024. Now, humanoid robots may be the missing piece in Amazon’s pursuit of end-to-end automation.

Whether these bots will eventually replace human drivers or merely assist them remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Amazon is racing to redefine what package delivery looks like. Amazon Humanoid delivery is coming.