A team of engineering students at Monash University has developed a self-driving delivery robot for high-footfall B2B environments such as shopping centres, campuses, festivals, and industrial sites. The prototype, named Ari, features four lockable compartments that carry hot and cold goods separately, thanks to future-planned thermal regulation features.
Built on an electric platform and equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities, the robot travels at a 6 km/h safe speed via pedestrian paths. Its design includes a modular internal system, making it adaptable for various deliveries beyond food, including pharmaceuticals, tools, and other temperature-sensitive items.
With a larger load capacity than traditional delivery robots and scalable production potential, the project is targeting commercial use cases where low-cost, contactless, and on-demand delivery solutions are increasingly in demand. Additional plans include autonomous charging and app-based integration for user-initiated deliveries.
The development team comprises final-year Monash Connected Autonomous Vehicle group engineering students. Ari is currently being showcased at the university’s Clayton campus.