A pilot program initiated in 2019 using electric-powered autonomous delivery vehicles to make local deliveries in Seattle, WA, Irvine, CA, and Atlanta, GA., will be terminated due to “uneven results”.  The Scout vehicle was developed by Amazon and delivered packages Monday through Friday during daylight hours.  Despite being autonomous, the vehicles were accompanied by employees to gather data.  At its peak the Scout Program involved 400 employees who will now be reassigned to other roles in the company. 

It would appear that the potential for autonomous delivery vehicles as tested by the Kroger Company, Seven Eleven, Albertsons and H-E-B have limitations.  These units are only suitable for suburban areas with sidewalks and customers have to retrieve their order at street level. This creates challenges for customers with locomotory impairment and residents of high-rise buildings.