Segway-Ninebot and DriveU.auto today announced a new partnership, under which the DriveU.auto remote operation platform will be integrated into Segway’s outdoor delivery robot. The companies did not give a specific date when people will be able to purchase a Segway using the new platform but said it will be “very soon.” They added that some of their customers are in the advanced stages of testing the technology.
With the integration, Segway’s robots will be able to be teleoperated, the companies said, noting it will allow last mile delivery service operators to deploy large fleets of delivery robots. Bedford, New Hampshire-based Segway Robotics is the service robots’ brand under the Segway-Ninebot group. Israel, Ra'anana-based DriveU.auto makes software designed for the teleoperation of robots and autonomous vehicles.
“We see delivery robots as a massive growth opportunity for Segway Robotics,” said Tony Ho, vice president of Segway Robotics. “We are happy to join forces with DriveU.auto, creating a compelling joint offering of the market’s ‘best of breed’ robotic platform and remote operations in a single fully integrated package, to enable rapid deployment by last mile delivery companies around the globe.”
DriveU.auto CEO Alon Podhurst said partnering with Segway “is an important milestone” for the company.
“Segway Robotics and DriveU.auto’s joint offering is a compelling integrated product for last mile delivery companies who wish to rapidly deploy services,” he said.
Segway delivery robot can drive autonomously or be remote controlled
The electric robot’s small form factor and slow-moving speeds make it ideal for deliveries, the companies said. The robot is capable of driving fully autonomously, semi autonomously, or being remote controlled. The company said a human will always be in the loop on all deliveries - whether for supervision, assisting the autonomous robot in edge cases, or to fully operate the delivery.
The use of robots for last mile delivery has been fast growing in the US, Asia and Europe, the companies argued. The global delivery robot market was valued at $3.53 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $30.05 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 24.5% from 2021 to 2030, according to Allied Market Research. With its field-proven robotic platform already deployed operationally, Segway Robotics is poised to capture the lionshare of this market, the companies argued.
DriveU.auto’s software-based connectivity platform supports both cloud and hybrid architecture, allowing it to support large-scale robot deployments. It is already in commercial use on sidewalks in the US and Europe.
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