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Amazon tests autonomous vehicle for deliveries

Developed in-house, ‘Amazon Scout’ makes debut in Washington state

Russell Redman

January 24, 2019

3 Min Read
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Amazon.com Inc. has begun field-testing a compact, self-driving delivery vehicle dubbed Amazon Scout.

The e-tailing giant said Wednesday that six of the autonomous, all-electric vehicles — about the size of a small cooler and emblazoned with the Prime logo — are now making package deliveries in a neighborhood in Washington’s Snohomish County.

In the pilot, Amazon Scout will deliver packages Monday through Friday during daylight hours. The six-wheeled, self-guided vehicles roll along their delivery route at a walking pace but initially will be accompanied by an employee, according to Amazon. The company said it developed the device at its research-and-development lab in Seattle to ensure the vehicles can safely navigate around pedestrians, pets and other objects in their path.

“We are happy to welcome Amazon Scout to our growing suite of innovative delivery solutions for customers and look forward to taking the learnings from this first neighborhood so Amazon Scout can, over time, provide even more sustainability and convenience to customer deliveries,” Sean Scott, vice president and builder of Amazon Scout, said in a blog post Wednesday announcing the test.

Delivery in the pilot works as follows: Customers in Snohomish County order items from Amazon as normal — either at Amazon.com or via the Amazon App — and their package(s) will be 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.

“We are excited to work with the community of Snohomish County as our initial partner for Amazon Scout,” Scott said.

Amazon said customers can select from the same delivery options, including free same-day, one-day and two-day shipping for Prime members.

“We are delighted to welcome Amazon Scout into our community. Similar to Amazon, we are always looking for new ways to better deliver service to our residents,” Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said in a statement.

With the introduction of Scout, Amazon joins several other large retailers delivering groceries and other products using driverless vehicles.

Walmart is engaged in several pilots using self-driving vehicles to fulfill online grocery orders, with partners including Udelv, Ford and Waymo. In a test being conducted in Chandler, Ariz., with Waymo — formerly Google’s self-driving car project — autonomous vehicles pick up customers at their homes and take them to the store to collect their orders. The pilot started over the summer.

Last month, at a Fry’s Food Store in Scottsdale, Ariz., The Kroger Co. launched what it called the first-ever autonomous vehicle delivery service available to the general public. The service, which delivers groceries ordered online or via a mobile app, went live after a successful pilot with Mountain View, Calif.-based Nuro that began in August.

And last week, Ahold Delhaize USA unveiled plans for its Stop & Shop chain to pilot driverless vehicles from San Francisco-based Robomart Inc. that bring consumers a selection of groceries when summoned through an app. Described as a “self-driving grocery store,” Robomart carries an assortment of produce, meal kits and convenience items directly to customers. “Grab-and-go” technology in the vehicle automatically records the products that they select and charges them.

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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