Reading considers robot delivery scheme after trials

Autonomous delivery robots have been spotted travelling along pavements in Reading, marking the town’s first test of pavement-based parcel drop-offs.

Footage captured by residents in Whitley Wood shows two four-wheeled robots from parcel firm DPD crossing roads as part of a local trial.

The company is seeking permission from the borough council to operate one robot on a defined route, with safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists under review.

If approved, the service would allow customers to collect parcels using a secure PIN sent via text to unlock the robot’s storage compartment. The DPD depot is located nearby in Commercial Close.

A company spokesperson said there was no legal requirement for a licence to operate autonomous robots in the UK, but confirmed DPD was working with the council to gain formal approval.

“If that approval is confirmed, we will begin deliveries using one robot, initially,” a DPD spokesperson said.

“To date, we have only completed short, manual, test-mapping runs with the robot.”

The council said no formal approval had yet been granted, and that it was still assessing the potential impact on pedestrians, road users, and people with mobility impairments.

Robot deliveries have already been rolled out in Milton Keynes, Raunds, Bristol and Lincolnshire.

It is hoped they could benefit the environment.

A World Economic Forum think tank report said that since 2020 so-called “last-mile deliveries” in cities “have surged”.

“Without further action, both delivery vehicle numbers and carbon emissions could rise by as much as 60% by 2030,” it said.

“With the right policies, infrastructure, and financial and administrative support, the private sector can help lead the shift to more sustainable and efficient urban deliveries.”