Indian tech startup Vayu Robotics has just revealed the “first-of-its-kind” LiDAR-less delivery robot that can autonomously navigate 20 mph on city streets.
Vayu unveils AI-powered road robot
Vayu Robotics formally introduced the Vayu One on-road delivery robot on July 23, 2024.
The startup deviated from the common autonomous delivery vehicle design that relies on LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors and software modules.
Instead, it merged a transformer-based mobility foundation model with a passive sensor, enabling Vayu One to perform more than one task simultaneously, unlike LiDAR-equipped ones.
Capabilities
Vayu One has the capability to function without pre-mapping roads. In addition, it can also safely navigate inside stores, streets, sidewalks, and even driveways.
More impressively, this miniature autonomous vehicle can transport up to 100 pounds of cargo. It also claims a top speed of up to 20 miles per hour.
Vayu Robotics believes its invention is the “first-of-its-kind” for on-road transport. Despite its current speed limitations, Vayu One is undoubtedly a landmark accomplishment in the fields of robotics and AI.
“The unique set of technologies we have developed at Vayu have allowed us to solve problems that have plagued delivery robots over the past decade, and finally create a solution that can actually be deployed at scale and enable the cheap transport of goods everywhere.”
Vayu CEO Anand Gopalan
Looking forward
Vayu Robotics is gearing up to commercially deploy its LiDAR-free Vayu One delivery robot.
So far, it has already accumulated 2,500 unit orders from a “large e-commerce player.”
Vayu Robotics also revealed that it is currently collaborating with a leading global robotics firm to substitute its LiDAR sensors with its sensing technology. This pivot can enable the technology to empower a wide range of robotic applications beyond autonomous deliveries.
They also plan to develop the technology to revolutionize different modes of transport.
“Our software is robot form factor agnostic and we have already deployed it across several wheeled form factors. In the near future, Vayu’s software technology will enable the movement of quadrupedal and bipedal robots, allowing us to expand into those markets as well.”
Vayu Robotics
About Vayu Robotics
Vayu Robotics consists of a team of visionary engineers and business leaders who seek to apply next-gen Artificial Intelligence technology to innovate autonomous deliveries, thus establishing a more sustainable and connected industry.
As the name suggests, “Vayu” stemmed from Sanskrit and represents “the intelligence that enables all motion in the universe and all movement of energy.”
Vayu Robotics’ three co-founders were former employees of Velodyne, Apple, and Lyft, enabling them to leverage their decades of expertise in robotics and autonomous software.
So far, Vayu Robotics has already secured a whopping $12.7 million in funding to develop its low-cost “robotics nervous system.” The company explained that this system is the heart of the Vayu One it presented on Tuesday.
For now, Vayu Robotics claims its scalable robotics architecture is set to empower small companies to deliver products to their customers’ doorstep seamlessly.
