Vayu One: World’s 1st self-navigating robot can deliver 100 pounds at 20 mph

In a significant leap forward for autonomous delivery technology, robotics and AI specialist Vayu has debuted what it claims to be the world’s first on-road delivery robot, named the Vayu One.

This innovative robot is designed to autonomously navigate both stores and streets at speeds of up to 20 mph.

Along with its impressive reveal, the company has secured its first major order for a substantial fleet of these robots for commercial operations.

Pioneering technology for autonomous deliveries

Vayu Robotics, a trailblazer in next-generation AI technology, is committed to revolutionizing the field of autonomous deliveries.

Founded by a team with extensive backgrounds in robotics and autonomous software, including former positions at Velodyne, Apple, and Lyft, Vayu aims to contribute to a more sustainable and connected world.

The name “Vayu,” derived from Sanskrit, symbolizes “the intelligence that enables all motion in the universe and all movement of energy,” reflecting the company’s vision.

The startup has previously raised $12.7 million to develop its cost-effective “robotics nervous system,” which forms the core of its newly unveiled delivery robot.

A game-changer in delivery robot design

Unlike many of its competitors, Vayu Robotics has taken a distinctive design approach for its delivery robot . Instead of relying on costly LiDAR sensors and specialized software modules that handle only one task, Vayu has integrated a transformer-based mobility foundation model with a passive sensor.

This new approach does away with the need for LiDAR, making the Vayu One different from other delivery robots .

The Vayu One is engineered to operate without the need for pre-mapped roads, a significant advantage in dynamic urban environments. It can safely navigate a variety of settings, including stores, streets, sidewalks, and driveways.

With the capability to transport up to 100 pounds of cargo at speeds reaching 20 mph, this miniature autonomous vessel has been declared “first-of-its-kind” for on-road transport by Vayu.

In a press release, Vayu CEO Anand Gopalan highlighted the achievement, saying, “The unique set of technologies we have developed at Vayu have allowed us to solve problems that have plagued delivery robots over the past decade, and finally create a solution that can actually be deployed at scale and enable the cheap transport of goods everywhere.”

Major order and future prospects

Following the public debut of the Vayu One , the company announced that its robots are ready for commercial deployment. Vayu Robotics has already secured an order for 2,500 units from a prominent e-commerce player, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey.

Vayu is also working with a top robotics company to use its sensing technology in other types of robots, not just for deliveries. The company plans to adapt its technology to support different modes of transport, expanding its impact across various robotic domains.

Gopalan elaborated on these ambitions, “Our software is robot form factor agnostic and we have already deployed it across several wheeled form factors. In the near future, Vayu’s software technology will enable the movement of quadrupedal and bipedal robots, allowing us to expand into those markets as well.”

With its innovative approach and key partnerships, Vayu Robotics is set to greatly influence the future of delivery robots and robotics. They aim to change how goods are moved and create new uses for their technology.