A team of robots made a milestone by utilizing the metro to deliver goods to shops at metro stations in a test run at Wanxia Station on Shenzhen Metro Line 2 on Monday.

Designed by VX Logistics and resembling penguins, the robots transported goods within their rounded bodies.

Observers watched as the robots entered metro trains, enjoyed the ride, and autonomously exited to deliver items to their destination shops.

This innovative robot operation aims to streamline goods delivery to underground shops, which traditionally depend on human workers to transport items from trucks parked above ground. Such deliveries are often hampered by limited parking space near metro stations and conflicts with busy morning rush hours.

In contrast, the robots can navigate the metro system during non-peak hours, enhancing delivery efficiency and reducing costs for shop owners.

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VX Logistics, a subsidiary of Vanke Group, reports that their metro delivery robots are equipped with an advanced AI dispatch system, panoramic lidar, and innovative chassis designs.

The dispatch system functions as the "brain" of the robots, optimizing delivery routes based on order volumes, shop locations, requested delivery times, and metro traffic conditions.

The panoramic lidar serves as their "eyes", mapping out the metro stations for precise navigation, while the robots’ chassis technology allows them to autonomously navigate elevators, board and disembark from trains, and recognize train stops.

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This article is translated by China Daily from the original report in Chinese as published on the official website of Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.