UK courier service Evri plans to trial a robot delivery dog in the summer.

In an industry first, the four-legged robot will work in partnership with a courier to deliver parcels, with the technology able to hop in and out of a van for deliveries.

The robot has been developed by Swiss physical AI provider RIVR.

The trial aims to gain insight into how the robot can work with couriers to improve efficiency support with some of the "more strenuous parts of the job."

“Couriers always have and always will be the heart of our business," said Marcus Hunter, chief technology officer, Evri. "Robots will never replace them, but we are dedicated to finding new and innovative methods to support our couriers and increase the speed and convenience of the services we offer."

The move is one of several robot trials Evri is conducting.

The company is also testing a small and light EV robot operating out of Barnsley Business Innovation Centre.

The technology, developed by Delivers AI, will also soon be out daily delivering parcels with the support of the local courier.

This summer, residents on a chosen streets in Barnsley will have the option to have all their parcels delivered by these robots for the three-month trial.

Residents will have the option to sign up for the trial via a dedicated website.

Evri said that these robots can be deployed 24 hours a day, allowing for night time deliveries for consumers on different schedules, or more on-demand services with designated time slots for consumers.

The robots can also be used to support consumers who need more time to get to the door.

---