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Amazon is scaling down tests of its home delivery robot Scout, as part of a series of cost cuttings. According to Amazon the field test ‘wasn’t meeting customers’ needs’, accorsing to a comment from Amazon to Bloomberg.
Amazon started the test with last mile delivery using a robot, Scout, in 2019 with tests in Seattle. It later expanded to Southern California, Atlanta, and Franklin. The robots were able to autonomously followed a delivery route via sidewalks. They were accompanied by a human during testing.
Amazon acquired Dispatch, a last-mile delivery company, in 2017 as a basis for Scout. Now the Scout team will be disbanded, and employees offered new jobs in the organization. About 400 people were working on the project globally.