7-Eleven stores in Japan are trialling an autonomous delivery robot developed through a collaboration between automotive giant Suzuki and Tokyo-based robotics venture Lomby.
This initiative marks a significant step in addressing Japan’s growing labor shortage and exploring the potential of last-mile delivery automation in urban environments.
Convenience store giant 7-Eleven Japan has commenced real-world testing of autonomous delivery robots in a suburb of Tokyo.
The deployment utilizes a four-wheeled, box-type robot engineered through a partnership between Suzuki, a well-established name in the automotive industry, and Lomby, a robotics startup based in the Japanese capital.
The sidewalk-navigating robots are currently operating out of two 7-Eleven stores in Hachioji, where two units are assigned to each location. These robots are tasked with delivering goods ordered via the 7NOW delivery service application.
Capable of speeds up to 6 kilometers per hour, the robots utilize onboard sensors to perceive and react to traffic signals and obstacles encountered on pedestrian pathways.
While the robots operate autonomously, they are manually loaded with customer orders before embarking on their delivery routes. Human operators remotely monitor the robots and retain the ability to intervene if necessary, ensuring safe and efficient operation.
The collaboration between Suzuki and Lomby, which was agreed about two years ago, brings together expertise from distinct yet complementary fields. Suzuki’s extensive experience in manufacturing and vehicle engineering likely contributes to the robot’s robust design and reliable mobility platform.
Lomby, as a robotics-focused startup, brings specialized knowledge in autonomous navigation, sensor integration, and control systems.
This trial, slated to continue until February next year, will allow 7-Eleven Japan to evaluate the practicality and effectiveness of autonomous delivery robots in a real-world setting.
The chosen test area, Minami-Osawa, presents a challenging environment with its hilly terrain and numerous slopes and stairs, making it a pertinent location to assess the robot’s capabilities in serving a diverse customer base, including elderly residents.
Previous robotic trials by 7-Eleven involved remotely controlled units. This current initiative marks the company’s first public testing of fully autonomous robots on public sidewalks, signaling a growing confidence in the maturity and potential of this technology to revolutionize last-mile logistics.
The results of this trial will be closely watched by the robotics and automation industry as a bellwether for the wider adoption of autonomous delivery solutions in densely populated urban areas facing similar labor challenges.
