Marble Robotics: The Last-Mile Delivery Challenge

As interns with at SF-based Marble Robotics, my team was asked to create a streamlined aesthetic for the delivery robot as well as user interface.
All sketching, CAD, modeling, and rendering on this page is original and created by me.

Many projections view autonomous delivery modules completing the last mile of delivery after being transported the majority of the journey by larger vehicles or intermodal containers.

Role: Hardware Concept Design Intern

The Inefficiencies of Modern Delivery

This chart shows the cost breakdown of the very inefficient last mile of delivery for a typical carrier. (American Resource Institute 2016)

Why the Last Mile?

Autonomous Grocery Delivery Robot: The Rough Skeleton Created in SolidWorks

The last mile of any shipment to an urban destination is always the least efficient part of the delivery system due to traffic, pedestrians, the high employee:package ratio.

Marble envisions that costly last mile being performed by autonomous delivery modules.

Companion Concept: Combining Nature and Modernity

I am fascinated by the form factor of the heeling dog and our intrinsic tendency to trust and admire the behavior conveyed through the disciplined form. I abstracted forms from these shapes, while bearing in mind the hardware functionality. In addition to seeking inspiration from nature, the team at Marble wanted to incorporate emerging trends and popular aesthetic in technology with emphasis on Tesla-inspired form factors. The posture of any autonomous technology should universally connote loyalty, reliability, and strength. As I began to look for aesthetic direction, I strove to connect with the user's ability to relate to and, perhaps even empathize with the technology.

Model Making to test door hinge designs

Using laser cutting, CNC, Hand sculpting and shop tools, this design prototype was built from low-cost materials such as foam-core board, wood dowels, and sculpting foam.

The Navetta Experience

Storyboarding: As I contemplated the user’s interaction with the delivery robot, I sketched out interfacing scenarios to better understand its form.One insight that arose was the idea for a compartmentalized cargo bay and its ability to “cargo pool”… — **Storyboarding:** As I contemplated the user’s interaction with the delivery robot, I sketched out interfacing scenarios to better understand its form.
One insight that arose was the idea for a compartmentalized cargo bay and its ability to “cargo pool” deliveries.

A final design sketch round accommodates front and rear LED lighting, lens guards for front and rear lidar/radar hardware as well as undercarriage terrain detection, and top-mounted RFID receiver for seamless end user interface. When considering the… — A final design sketch round accommodates front and rear LED lighting, lens guards for front and rear lidar/radar hardware as well as undercarriage terrain detection, and top-mounted RFID receiver for seamless end user interface. When considering the lidar housing, I integrated the forms into aesthetic elements rather than relegating the bulky hardware to afterthoughts imposed on the exterior. The result was a streamlined housing for components with direct elements taken from nature's insights and hardware trends. Rather than a digital touch interface, I proposed programmable RFID controlled compartments to allow access only to the cargo bay portion reserved for the user's items by touch-less interface. This would allow the 'robot' to visit multiple users before completing its trip.

Sam and Beth Get Deliveries

The autonomous Navetta arrives first to Sam where he accesses his compartments of the delivery via the NFC reader mounted on top and his smart device. He retrieves his delivery before closing the doors. and Navetta begins the next leg of its trip.

One delivery down, one delivery to go. Using a combination of GPS, Radar, and Lidar, the Navetta module safely and efficiently navigates the the area and lets the next addressee that their package will arrive soon.

The Navetta module arrives to Beth where she accesses her secured compartments to find and retrieve her delivery! She closes the doors and Navetta begins its return journey to the the last mile delivery station where it will be loaded with more packages.