In a major move to conquer the “final 100 yards” of e-commerce, Amazon officially acquired the Zurich-based autonomous robotics startup Rivr (formerly known as Swiss-Mile) on March 19, 2026. The acquisition signals Amazon’s most aggressive push yet into doorstep automation, pivoting away from its discontinued “Scout” sidewalk bot toward more agile, terrain-defying hardware.
The Technology: “Roller-Skating Dogs”
Rivr’s robots are famous for their unique wheeled-legged hybrid design, which combines the speed of a traditional delivery bot with the agility of a quadruped.
- Stair-Climbing Ability: Unlike the previous generation of 6-wheeled bots that were stopped by simple curbs, Rivr’s RIVR TWO model can “walk” up stairs and navigate uneven paths, gates, and snowy roads.
- Speed & Payload: The robots can travel at up to 15 kph (9.3 mph) and carry payloads exceeding 30kg, making them ideal for heavy grocery or multi-package deliveries.
- General Physical AI: The robots are trained using large-scale reinforcement learning in simulation, creating a “data flywheel” where every real-world delivery improves the AI’s ability to navigate complex urban environments.
Strategic Fit: From Warehouse to Doorstep
While Amazon has deployed over one million robots inside its fulfillment centers, the “doorstep” has remained a human-dominated (and expensive) domain.
| Feature | Amazon Scout (Discontinued 2022) | Rivr (Acquired 2026) |
| Locomotion | 6 Fixed Wheels | 4 Articulated Legs + Powered Wheels |
| Obstacles | Struggled with curbs/stairs | Easily climbs stairs and steps |
| Primary Use | Sidewalk-only delivery | Full “Van-to-Doorstep” automation |
| AI Base | Scripted/Heuristic | Reinforcement Learning (Physical AI) |
Deal Details & Background
While the final acquisition price remains undisclosed, the deal is a significant “exit” for the Swiss startup.
- Valuation History: Rivr was valued at approximately $110 million during its August 2024 seed round.
- Insider Backing: Amazon was already intimately familiar with the tech; the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund and Bezos Expeditions were lead investors in Rivr’s initial $22 million funding round.
- The “Swiss-Mile” Origin: The company was a spin-out from the Robotics Systems Lab at ETH Zurich, rebranding to Rivr in early 2025 to focus specifically on the global logistics market.
Impact on the Workforce: “Safety” vs. Replacement
Amazon’s official statement frames the acquisition as a tool to “improve safety outcomes” for human drivers.
- The “Co-Pilot” Model: In initial testing in Austin, Texas, human drivers take the robots in their vans and delegate the “last 100 yards”—the walk from the van to the porch—to the robot. This reduces the physical strain and injury risk for delivery associates.
- The Data Flywheel: Amazon aims to integrate Rivr’s navigation models into its broader “foundational AI” stack, potentially creating a single unified AI that can run both warehouse pickers and last-mile delivery bots.
“This acquisition reflects our commitment to a continued investment in research,” an Amazon spokesperson told reporters. “We believe it has the potential to further improve the overall delivery experience for our partners and associates.”
