Camello robot delivers orders to homes in Singapore

Singapore-based tech startup OTSAW Digital has deployed a pair of robots named Camello to bring groceries to residents in a part of town.

Founded in 2015, OTSAW Digital focuses on developing robotics and artificial intelligence technologies for healthcare, security, and mobility applications.

Robot services were developed with the hope of capitalizing on the increased demand for home deliveries, and Camello robotics services were provided to 700 households in a one-year trial.

Users can reserve milk and egg delivery slots, and the app notifies them when the robot is about to reach the meeting point, which is usually the foyer of an apartment building.

The company has equipped the robots with 3D sensors, a camera, and two compartments, each of which can carry up to 20 kilograms of food or ordered parcels over the Internet.

Camello robots make four or five shipments per day on weekdays and are on order for half a day on Saturdays.

"The robots use ultraviolet rays to disinfect themselves after every trip," said (Ling Ting Ming), CEO of OTSAW Digital.

He added: Everyone is looking forward to dealing with contactless and non-human devices, especially during this pandemic period.

Employees accompany the robots on their rounds to ensure no problems arise at this time.

One user said it might be especially helpful for the elderly so that they don't have to carry goods home, but a bystander worried that the technology might cause too much trouble for some.

The launch of autonomous delivery robots comes a month after Singapore's Information Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced that it is leading a year-long trial of autonomous robots providing on-demand delivery services.

“As e-commerce grows, consumers are accustomed to expecting food, products, and groceries to arrive at their homes in increasingly shorter timescales, and autonomous delivery robots can play an important role in augmenting the existing delivery infrastructure to enhance the consumer experience and increase productivity gains,” the authority said.