When robots hit the road on their own, you know the future is coming fast. That’s just what happened recently in Fort Worth, when a CLEVON 1 robot courier made its first North American delivery. The all-electric, autonomous vehicle looks like a mini tractor-trailer and was built by Clevon, an Estonia-based global autonomous delivery innovator.
The delivery was made three months after Clevon moved its US headquarters to the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone in Fort Worth. The opening of the company’s HQ included a visit and comments from the president of Estonia, Alar Karis.
In a recent delivery, Clevon’s robotic courier navigated real-time roadblocks—including crossing traffic—as it delivered gourmet meals from O’Neill’s Inflight Catering to of Alliance Aviation Services team members at the new fixed-based operation terminal at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
Rapid service area mapping, telesupervision, and autonomous driving
It’s not a short jump either. The 3.6-mile route is adjacent to I-35W traveling on Eagle Parkway. CLEVON 1 turned south onto Heritage Parkway before reaching its destination, 13901 Aviator Way, the company said.
CLEVON 1’s use of rapid service area mapping, telesupervision and autonomous driving capabilities will enable it to be deployed in new service areas “in a more efficient manner,” Clevon added.
Meelis Anton, Clevon’s US chief operating officer, called the event “an important day” for Clevon’s partnership with Hillwood, the developer and manager of AllianceTexas.
“With the demand for autonomous last-mile delivery solutions growing on a global scale, Clevon is constantly changing the way goods are transported, logging more than 12,000 miles of autonomously delivering goods abroad, and now here in the US,” Anton said in a statement. “Hillwood’s Mobility Innovation Zone platform is helping Clevon develop and commercialize our autonomous technology, and we look forward to continued deployment in the future.”
Ross Perot, Jr.: ‘Fort Worth is like Estonia’
In September, Hillwood Chairman Ross Perot, Jr., welcomed the president of Estonia and Clevon’s leadership team to the opening of the HQ—and he said that Estonia and Clevon’s new home in the US have many in common.
“Fort Worth is like Estonia,” Perot said. “This is a very modern, forward-looking town. And this region of the United States is the fastest growing region of the United States. We have about one Estonian every seven years—a million people or more every seven years—move to North Texas. And they are here because of our basic freedom, our affordability, our culture, and our can-do spirit. And so, to have Clevon join us and develop this new mobility technology is a great honor.
Perot congratulated the team and their country on Estonia’s 31 years of independence since leaving the Soviet Union. “You show the world what you can do with your innovation and your spirit,” he said.
In welcoming The MIZ company to AllianceTexas, Perot noted that as it develops its delivery systems, “you can practice in our communities, you can practice in our park, you can practice interfacing with FedEx or Amazon or UPS—all delivery systems. in one day.”
Deliver on roads, not sidewalks
Driverless robot deliveries have happened before in Dallas-Fort Worth, but they’re more often rolling on sidewalks, not roads—like Starship Technologies’ fleet of food delivery robots that started in rolled onto the SMU campus in January. (Starship is also based in Estonia, which gives you an idea of the small Baltic country’s huge impact on autonomous innovation.)
Unlike sidewalk robots, Clevon’s driverless robot courier can navigate public roads in urban areas, making deliveries “more energy-efficient, cost-effective and scalable.” The company says its CLEVON 1 model has been tested on public roads in Europe for more than two years, “and has proven to be safe and reliable.” It offers environmental benefits, too, by releasing zero CO2 emissions.
The biggest line? Clevon claims its robots have reduced last-mile labor costs by up to 90%.
Ian Kinne, director of logistics innovation at Hillwood, says the capability will be in greater demand as the future unfolds.
“Businesses must diversify and innovate their last-mile delivery solutions to compete in a market where delivery options are in demand,” Kinne said in the statement. “AllianceTexas and our Mobility Innovation Zone continue to be the go-to place for mobility visionaries to comprehensively scale and commercialize new technologies. By connecting with MIZ’s established infrastructure and ecosystem, the Clevon’s forward-thinking technology enables them to provide alternative solutions to the last mile of the supply chain here in North Texas.
The global autonomous last-mile delivery market could hit $51B in six years
The global autonomous last-mile delivery market was nearly $9 billion in 2020, but it is expected to grow to $51 billion by 2028, according to Fortune Business Insights.
As that growth continues—and robotic couriers become a more common sight on Dallas-Fort Worth roads—Clevon says businesses need to “differentiate and innovate in their last-mile delivery solutions to compete in a market where on-demand delivery options dominate.”
The Estonian company intends to become a driving player in that market with the support of an impressive list of partners, such as Nvidia, Toshiba, LG, TI, Willwood, Hydrastar, and Onsemi.
Estonia’s president: ‘The future is very close’
At the opening of the Clevon HQ in September, Estonian President Alark Karis said, “The future is very close.”
“Estonian companies are now leading the way in the new mobility sector,” added Karis. “By combining technology with business and entrepreneurship, [Clevon has] managed to create something that will change the entire movement sector, and hopefully, help build a better world.
Clevon CEO Sander Sebastian Agur thanked the president of his country for the event in September, then made his own statements.
Clevon CEO: ‘Looking to create an ecosystem here to create new jobs’
“Our new robot courier becomes the first in Europe to deliver autonomous parcels on public streets,” said Agur. He notes growing consumer demand for on-demand and same-day delivery, while restaurants and companies everywhere face a shortage of delivery drivers.
“We are here to offer a solution to provide sustainable, green, zero incidents, energy efficient autonomous vehicles to overcome these challenges,” said Agur.
Clevon’s solution could mean a boost to the North Texas economy. “We intend to create an ecosystem here to create new jobs,” added Agur.
“Of course, we like any other startup will face challenges like finding talent, finding investors, and coping to meet all the necessary regulatory environment to get our vehicles on the roads,” said Agur. “But we’re excited to get ahead of it. We chose to place our US headquarters here in Texas because of the great business environment, as we have been able to create partnerships that are essential to scaling and commercializing autonomous vehicle technologies. And of course, it is already a central hub for most US logistics providers. “
Agur said that Clevon plans to start mass production of robot couriers at the beginning of 2024, “with the vision of becoming one of the first and leading technology companies whose unmanned vehicle can be found available and used on public roads around the world.”
Also in Clevon’s robot lineup: cargo, locker, and security robots
Agur’s company has more than the CLEVON 1 in its robot line. the Models include Universal Platform, CargoBox for retail businesses, Locker for logistics companies, and Truckbed for transportation. There is also a Mobile Camera model for security solutions.
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