Roxo (robot courier)

2022: FedEx shuts down package delivery service with robots

On October 18, 2022, it became known that FedEx was discontinuing development of its Roxo delivery robot. The company will switch attention from the robot to more immediate capabilities, according to its press release.

The Roxo robot uses several sets of wheels to climb steps and curbs and lift its user from a sitting position to eye level. The maximum speed of the robot was 16 km/h, the carrying capacity was 45 kg, it could autonomously move around cars and pedestrians using LIDAR cameras and sensors. Human operators monitored its movement and, if necessary, controlled it manually.

FedEx closes failed parcel delivery service with robots

The head of the transformation department of Fedex, Sriram Krishnasam, in the second half of October 2022 announced to employees the termination of the development of Roxo (part of an internal project called DRIVE).

{{quote 'Although robotics and automation are key elements of our innovative strategy, Roxo does not meet the necessary DRIVE requirements in the near future,' Krishnasam wrote. Although we are discontinuing research and development, Roxo served an important purpose: to rapidly advance our understanding and use of robotics. }} Roxo has been trialled in various countries, including the United States, United Arab Emirates and Japan. FedEx said the robot was designed to travel within a radius of five to eight kilometres from local delivery centres and had previously said the "most advanced test period" would be conducted in 2021.

Roxo's closure follows news that Amazon is also ending operational testing of its Scout delivery robot in early October 2022. Amazon said it was not stopping development of the robot entirely, but simply "reducing the program." The company said some aspects of the program "do not meet customer needs" but did not elaborate on why.^[1]

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