Amazon acquires Swiss robotics startup Rivr to test delivery robots for last-mile doorstep delivery

Amazon acquired Rivr, a Swiss robotics company formerly known as Swiss-Mile that develops four-legged wheeled robots designed to carry packages from delivery vehicles to customer doorsteps, for an undisclosed amount, announcing the deal quietly via a notice to its third-party delivery contractors. Amazon said Rivr's technology will be used to research and field test how robots can be integrated alongside human delivery associates in the last steps of the delivery process, with real-world testing and contractor feedback informing how the company scales the technology. Amazon had previously invested in Rivr through its $1B Industrial Innovation Fund and participated in Rivr's $22M seed round last March via Bezos Expeditions, and now has more than one million robots deployed across its operations network.