#HTE

Amazon Rolls Out Scout, Their Autonomous Delivery Vehicle

Amazon has just announced the rollout of Scout, their autonomous, electric delivery robot thingy. Here’s footage of it in “action,” to give you an idea of its size and typical pace:

As of yesterday, “these devices will begin delivering packages to customers in a neighborhood in Snohomish County, Washington,” Amazon writes.

“We’re starting with six Amazon Scout devices, delivering packages Monday through Friday, during daylight hours. The devices will autonomously follow their delivery route but will initially be accompanied by an Amazon employee. We developed Amazon Scout at our research and development lab in Seattle, ensuring the devices can safely and efficiently navigate around pets, pedestrians and anything else in their path.”

Why Snohomish County, and not someplace more populated? We have our theories.

We Assume Other Potential Pilot Cities Were Rejected for These Reasons:

San Francisco: It would get stuck on a hill.

New York: It would get tagged.

Boston: Someone would kick it over.

Detroit: Someone would set it on fire.

Philadelphia: Someone would tag it, kick it over and set it on fire.

Los Angeles: It would get hit by a car.