FedEx has launched its sidewalk delivery robot “Roxo” in Japan, marking its entry into the Asia Pacific region.

FedEx believes Japan’s encouraging environment for testing and adoption of robotics, alongside its positive regulatory environment and infrastructure, will enable the company to extensively test and deploy the unit in Japan.

Developed in partnership with DEKA Development & Research Corporation, Roxo is a battery-powered delivery droid capable of carrying a payload of up to 100 lbs within a 3–5 mile radius. It is equipped with multiple cameras, LiDAR sensors, and machine learning capabilities for autonomous navigation, and is also capable of navigating unpaved terrain and climbing steps. The droid is currently continuously monitored remotely by personnel, who can also communicate with people in the surrounding via the attached microphone and speakers.

Analyst QuickTake: Roxo was first unveiled in February 2019, and since then the company has conducted test runs in Memphis (Tennessee), Manchester (New Hampshire), Plano, and Frisco (Texas) with participating retailers and restaurants, and even expanding outside the US, to Dubai in October 2019. 

• With the launch in Japan, FedEx joins a handful of Japanese companies including Rakuten, an ecommerce company, ZMP Inc., a robotics company, and Panasonic, an electronic appliances manufacturer, who have already deployed sidewalk delivery droid trials in the country. 

• Even though FedEx is the first US/Europe-based droid company to enter Japan, several players in the drone delivery space including Zipline, Matternet, Wingcopter, and Skyports have tapped the Japan market in the recent past.