FedEx Gives Up On Its 'Roxo' Delivery Robot

FedEx is calling it quits on its cute but mostly ineffective "Roxo" last mile autonomous delivery robot. The move comes just weeks after Amazon ended field tests and gutted the team working on its Scout delivery robot. Sriram Krishnasamy, the package delivery giant's Chief Transformation Officer, reportedly broke the news to staff of Roxo's shattering last week as part of a broader internal organizational program called DRIVE, according to emails first obtained by Robotics 24/7. "Although robotics and automation are key pillars of our innovation strategy, Roxo did not meet necessary near-term value requirements for DRIVE," Krishnasamy reportedly wrote. "Although we are ending the research and development efforts, Roxo served a valuable purpose: to rapidly advance our understanding and use of robotic technology." FedEx did not immediately respond to Gizmodo's request for comment but told Robotics 24/7 it's shifting away from Roxo, in part, to focus on, "several nearer-term opportunities."