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Yamato Begins Pilot Of Autonomous Delivery Robots

TOKYO - Yamato Transport has begun a demonstration of autonomous delivery robots at a large condominium complex in the Tokyo metropolitan area, aiming to reduce driver workloads and bring the system into practical use in 2026.

The robots retrieve parcel data from on-site smart delivery lockers and hand off that information to a unit that navigates the building. Using a built-in robotic arm, the device can operate auto-lock entrances, ride elevators on its own, and ring intercoms to reach individual units.

The service supports both in-person handoffs and unattended drop-offs, delivering according to recipients’ preferred method and time slot.

With the number of large condominiums exceeding 1,000 units increasing in urban and redevelopment districts, Yamato seeks to meet diverse delivery needs while improving efficiency at logistics sites facing acute labor shortages. The company is targeting full-scale deployment in 2026.

Source: FNN

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