A Finnish construction supply company is pilot testing an autonomous vehicle that makes deliveries to client sites throughout Helsinki. Called “HeRo,” for “Helsinki Robot,” the electric-powered, zero-emission vehicle speaks English and can carry loads of up to 300 kilograms, or about 660 pounds.
The company, Wurth Oy, is hoping HeRo can close the gap in delivering late-breaking and last-minute orders to jobsites—and maybe one day, lunch for the construction workers there. “The advantage of autonomous robots,” says Wurth Oy Logistics Manager Terhi Vesala, “is that they can make urgent deliveries in the area flexibly, without interrupting the customer’s work.”
HeRo was custom-built by French company TwinswHeel, with software—including a customer interface—developed by Finnish-French company LMAD. The test program began in May and is scheduled to run through July.
