Evri is testing Europe's inaugural bipedal robot delivery system in Barnsley, UK. Partnering with the Japanese firm Refined Robotics, the company aims to use these machines to navigate difficult residential paths.
The 15kg payload and stair-climbing mechanics of Refined Robotics
The robots, which move at a speed of four miles per hour, use a unique design featuring two springy legs ending in wheels rather than a traditional humanoid walk. according to the report, these bots can carry parcels weighing up to 15kg and are intended to assist delivery drivers by handling the most difficult terrain.
- Speed: 4mph (6km/h)
- Capacity: 15kg (33lbs)
- Movement: Bipedal springy legs with wheels
Solving the 'last 100 metres' through bipedal movement
Refined Robotics CEO Nick Hafner noted that 65 per cent of delivery jobs currently require human intervention to cross terrain that standard wheeled bots cannot . The company identifies this "last 100 metres" from the van to the doorstep as the most expensive and risky segment of the entire logistics chain.
Evri Group CTO Marcus Hunter emphasized that these robots are meant to complement, not replace, human couriers. An Evri spokesperson suggested the technology could even support second delivery attempts on the same day for customers who are temporarily unavailable.
Avoiding the pitfalls of Starship’s Sheffield and Milton Keynes failures
This trial follows previous attempts by companies like Co-op and Uber Eats to deploy autonomous robots in the UK. As reported by the Daily Mail, Starship Technologies' six-wheeled robots faced significant hurdles, including a pilot program in Sheffield that ended after just five months and safety complaints from the charity Living Streets.
Past issues have included a robot colliding with a German Shepherd in Milton Keynes and concerns that autonomous machines might obstruct pavements for elderly or disabled pedestrians... Evri must navigate these social and safety perceptions as they test their new bipedal technology in a real residential environment.
Will the Barnsley trial trigger similar safety concerns from Living Streets?
While the technology aims to solve mechanical issues, several questions remain regrading the long-term viability of the Barnsley pilot. It is currently unclear how the robots will react to unpredictable urban obstacles or if the company will face similar regulatory pressure from pedestrian safety advocates .
Furthermore, while Evri is assessing the trial's performance, the company has not yet confirmed if a successful Barnsley run will guarantee expansion to other UK cities. The decision to scale the program depends entirely on how these machines perform in the unpredictable settings of real residential streets .
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