Once upon a time, people said the future of deliveries would be done by robots, whether flying in the air or scooting on the ground. Turns out, that vision was a bit too fanciful and not exactly safe enough to work in the real world, especially after a number of unfortunate events involving these robots. That doesn’t mean their day isn’t coming though, as there’s still a long way to go in perfecting the designs of these futuristic machines.
Having little robots scampering around delivering packages may seem adorable until you consider the chaos a fleet of those autonomous contraptions could create. That’s a lot of wasted road space if they’re just rolling along delivering. However, this new design concept introduces a fresh perspective, envisioning a versatile robot that can follow you, carry your deliveries, and even whisk you off to your destination.
Designers: Chaewon Lee, Jungmin Park
Delivering packages by robot is both fascinating but also a bit concerning. It adds a certain efficiency but can raise questions about security, especially regarding the packages and the human workers being replaced. A robot that can follow you around or pass items to coworkers in the same building is probably less intimidating and brings convenience without much risk involved. Imagine if this robot could even assist with chores, like making purchases for you.
Movr stands as a concept for this unique robot, but it’s really more than just a courier. At first glance, it looks a bit odd for a delivery bot and resembles more of a mobile three-wheeled trash can. Its sides can open to show a small area for a phone, drinks, envelopes, and whatever else you may wanna transport. Almost like a ride-hailing service, movr also includes an app that lets you send or receive packages, depending on what you need done.
But what makes it even cooler is that it’s not just about moving stuff. Movr can also transport people – well, one person at a time, that is. When it transforms into a personal mobility device, its front section extends while the handles slide up. The body then acts as a seat, carrying the passenger along with their belongings from one spot to the next.
Movr is definitely an intriguing concept, but it’s not quite ready for action just yet. There are many factors like stability, battery life, speed, and intelligence that need to be worked out, and cramming all of this into a compact design like this ain’t no easy feat. Still, the dream of transforming robots and vehicles has lingered in the minds of many engineers and designers, and who knows? One day, movr could leap from concept to reality.
