If you live in Regensdorf, a quiet municipality in Switzerland, you might soon find your groceries or parcels arriving at your doorstep in a very futuristic way—by robot. Swiss Post, Migros Online, and robotics company RIVR have teamed up to test out this new system, and it feels like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.
The star of the trial is a clever machine you may have already heard of—the ANYmal robot, originally developed at ETH Zurich. What makes this robot stand out is its unique design. It has four legs, but instead of just feet, those legs can also be equipped with wheels.
When the wheels are locked, they act like rubber-treaded feet, letting the robot climb stairs, step over uneven ground, and handle tricky terrain with ease. But when the wheels are unlocked, they spin freely, turning the robot into a speedy little courier that can zip across flat surfaces like sidewalks and roads far faster than it could by walking.
The version being used in Regensdorf is called the RIVR ONE, a commercial model created by ETH spinoff RIVR, previously known as Swiss-Mile. It’s not just about wheels and legs, though. The robot is packed with technology—LiDAR sensors, optical cameras, and GPS—all working together so it can move around the city streets on its own, avoiding obstacles while safely carrying deliveries in a locked cargo box mounted on its back.
In this new trial, the robots won’t be making the entire journey by themselves. They’ll first ride along in Swiss Post delivery vans, and then, when the van reaches the neighborhood, the robot will hop out and handle the last leg of the delivery, taking parcels and grocery orders directly to people’s doorsteps. It’s a smart way of combining traditional delivery methods with robotic assistance, saving time and adding a touch of futuristic convenience.
Even though these robots are designed to work autonomously, they’re not being sent out without backup. Human supervisors will be watching over them during the trial, ready to step in remotely if something doesn’t go as planned. So, while it may feel unusual at first to see a robot rolling and walking its way up to your front door with your shopping, you can rest assured that someone is keeping an eye on things.
It’s an exciting glimpse of how everyday services might look in the near future. Instead of waiting for a delivery driver to walk up your path, you could be greeted by a friendly, high-tech helper that walks, rolls, and navigates its way right to you. It’s practical, innovative, and just a little bit fun. Wouldn’t you be curious to see one stop by your home?
Source: RIVR
