Veho and RIVR are deploying autonomous delivery robots in Austin, Texas, starting this May, in a joint effort to improve e-commerce parcel delivery. The pilot will expand to other markets later this year following an initial evaluation. The program pairs Veho’s human drivers with robots developed by RIVR, a robotics company focused on physical artificial intelligence. While a driver completes one delivery, the robot handles another, navigating from the vehicle to the customer’s doorstep and sending photo confirmation through the Veho app.
Each robot will be accompanied by a RIVR employee during the trial to monitor performance and ensure delivery standards. The robots are intended to increase delivery capacity and reduce physical strain on drivers, particularly in high-density areas where parking and access are limited.
Veho operates in 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, supported by more than 30 distribution centers and about 84,000 independent drivers. Its logistics platform is developed in-house. RIVR, founded in 2024 by researchers from ETH Zürich, designs robots that can navigate complex urban terrain, including stairs and uneven surfaces. The company positions its technology as a scalable alternative to curbside or drone delivery systems, aiming to automate the final stretch of urban logistics. The partnership will test whether combining robotics with human operations can improve delivery speed, cost, and reliability while maintaining service quality.
