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Amazon shelves pilot of robotic delivery vehicle

Field tests of Amazon Scout ended as program gets scaled back

Russell Redman

October 7, 2022

2 Min Read
Amazon Scout-robotic delivery.png
Amazon had been testing the Amazon Scout autonomous delivery vehicle in neighborhoods in Washington, California, Tennessee and Georgia.Amazon

Amazon is off-roading its nearly four-year test of an autonomous delivery vehicle, dubbed Amazon Scout.

The Seattle-based e-tail giant launched a field test of the electric-powered Amazon Scout in early 2019. In the pilot, six of the self-guided, six-wheeled vehicles — about the size of a small cooler and emblazoned with the Prime logo — made small-package deliveries in a neighborhood in Washington’s Snohomish County. Since then, the test was expanded to Irvine, Calif.; Franklin, Tenn.; and Atlanta.

However, Amazon spokeswoman Alisa Carroll on Friday confirmed published reports that the company was halting the Amazon Scout pilot because of uneven results. With the move, Amazon will maintain a team for Scout and continue to explore the concept but will scale back the program, she said in an email.

“During our limited field test for Scout, we worked to create a unique delivery experience but learned through feedback that there were aspects of the program that weren’t meeting customers’ needs,” Carroll explained. “As a result, we’re ending our field tests and reorienting the program. We are working with employees during this transition, matching them to open roles that best fit their experience and skills.”

Amazon developed Scout at its research-and-development lab in Seattle, ensuring that the vehicles can navigate around pedestrians, pets and other objects in their path. In the initial test in Washington, Scout delivered packages Monday through Friday during daylight hours. The vehicles — accompanied by an employee — roll along their delivery route at a walking pace.

Related:Amazon tests autonomous vehicle for deliveries

The delivery process worked as follows: Customers order items from Amazon as normal — at Amazon.com or via the Amazon App — and their package(s) are delivered by one of Amazon’s carrier partners or by Amazon Scout. When Scout arrives at their home, customers walk over to the vehicle, the top flips open and they retrieve their order. Scout then goes on its way. Customers were able to select from the same delivery options, including free same-day, one-day and two-day shipping for Prime members.

According to Bloomberg, which first reported the end of the Amazon Scout test, Amazon has begun to retire experimental projects as sales have tailed off. Approximately 400 people were working on the Scout project globally, and now the team will be downsized to a “skeleton crew” to re-examine the concept of an autonomous delivery vehicle, Bloomberg’s report said.

Other large retailers also have explored the use of self-driving vehicles for last-mile or middle-mile delivery service, including Walmart, Sam’s Club, The Kroger Co., The Save Mart Cos., Loblaw Cos., 7-Eleven, Albertsons Cos., Stop & Shop and H-E-B.

Related:Save Mart expands rollout of grocery delivery robots

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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