Overview

• Amazon has finished building an indoor “humanoid park” at its San Francisco office to simulate complex delivery scenarios like stairs, obstacles and van exits.
• The company is developing proprietary AI to control the robots while evaluating hardware platforms from partners including Unitree and Agility Robotics.
• Humanoid bots are designed to hitch rides in the back of Amazon’s 20,000-plus Rivian electric vans and will embark on initial “field trips” to test curbside deliveries.
• Amazon expects robots running alongside human drivers to shorten drop-off times and boost last-mile efficiency.
• Researchers caution that achieving reliable performance in variable real-world conditions—such as uneven terrain, pets and unpredictable obstacles—remains a key hurdle.