Mercedes-Benz and the innovation company Starship Technologies have agreed to form a partnership to develop ‘Robovan’ – the world’s first transport system integrating specially-adapted vans – “mother ships” with autonomous delivery robots to allow more efficient delivery of goods to their clients.
Mercedes-Benz and the innovation company Starship Technologies have agreed to form a partnership to develop ‘Robovan’ – the world’s first transport system integrating specially-adapted vans – “mother ships” with autonomous delivery robots to allow more efficient delivery of goods to their clients.
“The new project once again proves that Mercedes–Benz bravely faces the future, always being a step ahead. Since its foundation in 1871, the company has constantly shown its leadership in the introduction of innovations, as it is able to see further and beyond the limits of just one industry. Mercedes-Benz and its technologies were created to serve people and not vice versa, therefore the striving for excellence of the brand is endless,” emphasises Benita Sadauska, the Chairwoman of the Domenikss Board.
Davids Stebelis (Dāvids Štēbelis), the expert of the Green Industry Innovation Centre said: “With this project Mercedes-Benz will simultaneously introduce innovations on three levels – innovative technology, an innovative product and innovative business model. Moreover, it will be achieved in a comparatively traditional industry such as shipments and deliveries. It shows that global changes related to automation and the replacement of human labour with robots have started taking place. Robots will allow things to be done in a more productive way and significantly reduce costs, providing an opportunity to companies to become more competitive in the future.”
An investment of USD 562 million or EUR 492.8 million is planned within the next five years for the implementation of a semi-autonomous transport system in Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans, which, in a manner similar to the space “motherships” will manage eight delivery robots.
The specialised van Robovan, will use a shelf system filled with robots, thus being able to deliver 400 or 120% more packages within a business day of nine hours. Only 180 packages were previously delivered in the same period of time.
Currently, Starship Technologies delivery robots service 1.2 million people in 12 countries and 47 cities worldwide, encompassing an area of more than 12,000 kilometres.
Mercedes-Benz is the pride of the German automobile manufacturing industry with a history dating back more than a century and the best manufacturing traditions, striving for excellence in every automobile. The core of the brand is formed by the desire to create the best automobiles in the world, convincing the mind and warming the heart. The motto of Mercedes-Benz and also of Domenikss is excellence in everything; therefore it embodies the best in terms of quality, safety, sustainability and comfort in combination with outstanding design, innovations and client satisfaction.
