Parcel delivery company DPD has confirmed plans to launch autonomous robots in Lincoln as part of a nationwide rollout that could see up to 30 UK depots operating the vehicles in their locality.
The company first introduced robots in Milton Keynes in July 2022, and they are now also delivering parcels to DPD customers in Raunds and Bristol with more locations to follow this year.
Based at DPD’s Lincoln depot at St Modwens Park, the robots will deliver to the nearby village of Witham St Hughs, via an existing network of footpaths.
The robots, which have a battery life of up to 12 hours and can deliver within a mile radius of the depot, operate autonomously once they have completed the mapping process, during which the robot is fully supervised and controlled by remote control.
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DPD parcel recipients in Witham St Hughs will receive an SMS when the robot is outside their property and can then use a secure one-time pin code to open the robot and access their parcel.
Once the compartment is closed, the robot will either continue to its next delivery or return to the depot. The robots can complete up to 30 deliveries a day.
DPD worked with Lincolnshire County Council on the introduction of the robots in Witham St Hughs.
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This is a very interesting trial of the system, and we will be watching it closely to see how it goes.
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“Technology such as this is clearly part of the future of traffic and highways use so it’s good to be involved at such an early stage.
“We are interested in the outcomes of this trial and where it could lead for the future.”
DPD UK recently issued a sustainability update confirming that the company is on target to deliver a 46% reduction in emissions by the end of 2024, from the 2020 baseline, with a third of its final-mile van fleet now electric and 95% of its HGV fleet running on hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Achievements and innovations in last-mile logistics will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
