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Ford unveiled on Wednesday what it hoped would be the future of autonomous delivery in the form of a two-legged robot.
Ford is teaming up with robotics startup Agility Robotics for a research project exploring the potential of partnerships between autonomous vehicles and parcel delivery robots.
"Together, we will strive to ensure that autonomous vehicles are specially equipped to accomplish something that is surprisingly difficult to achieve: making the final step to getting your car delivered to your door," wrote Ken Washington, CTO of Ford, in a Middle Post.
Read more: Lyft associates with Waymo to launch robo-taxis in Arizona
In a brilliant public relations video, Ford showed the robot, called "Digit". The agility was unveiled for the first time in February at Digit, claiming that the robot could lift 20 kg and even get caught with his arms when he stumbled. He folds to the back of an autonomous vehicle, ready to go out and deliver the package when it arrives at the right house.
In the video, Digit provides a care package to a student and both share a punch.
You can watch Digit in action here:
The cooperation between Digit and the autonomous van does not end with the vehicle that drops the robot. "When an autonomous vehicle brings Digit to its final destination, the vehicle can wirelessly transmit all the information it needs, including the best path that leads to the gateway," wrote Washington.
Digit itself is equipped with Lidar and stereo cameras, which allows it to navigate in "basic scenarios".
Washington also told TechCrunch that bipedal robots have some advantages over wheeled robots because they are able to navigate more easily through stairs and cracks in the pavement.
It is unclear exactly when and how Digit could become a commercial part of Ford Robaxaxi's plans, but Agility said in its February press release that deliveries would begin in the first quarter of 2020.
Agility Robotics CEO Damion Shelton also told TechCrunch that the company would produce six versions of Digit, and produce two per month with a production target of 50-100 by 2021.
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