Amazon Acquires Stair-Climbing Robot Maker Rivr for Doorstep Delivery

Quick Facts

• Amazon acquired Swiss robotics company Rivr, maker of four-legged delivery robots that can climb stairs and navigate uneven terrain
• Rivr raised $25 million total funding and was valued at $110 million in August 2024, with Amazon previously investing through its Industrial Innovation Fund
• The robots combine wheels and legs to travel up to 15 kph while handling real-world obstacles that traditional sidewalk delivery robots cannot navigate

Amazon has acquired Rivr, a Swiss robotics company developing stair-climbing delivery robots, the company confirmed Thursday. Amazon disclosed the deal in a notice to third-party delivery contractors but did not reveal financial terms.

Rivr’s robots feature four legs and wheels that enable them to navigate stairs, gates, uneven paths and other terrain that stops traditional delivery robots. The hybrid design allows the machines to travel at speeds up to 15 kph (9.3 mph) while maintaining mobility across challenging surfaces.

“This step will accelerate our vision of building General Physical AI through doorstep delivery, bringing robotics and AI closer to real-world deployment at scale,” Rivr co-founder and CEO Marco Bjelonic said in a LinkedIn post announcing the acquisition.

Founded in April 2023 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab, the company originally operated as Swiss-Mile before rebranding to Rivr in January 2025. Bjelonic previously described the four-legged robot to TechCrunch as a “dog on roller skates.”

Amazon previously invested in Rivr through its $1 billion Industrial Innovation Fund, along with Bezos Expeditions. The startup raised $25 million in total funding and reached a $110 million valuation in August 2024.

The acquisition follows pilot programs Rivr conducted with package delivery company Veho in Austin and food delivery platform Just Eat Takeaway.com in Zurich. The company aimed to scale to 100 robots by 2026.

Amazon said Rivr’s technology will help research how the devices can integrate into delivery operations, including “helping DAs carry packages from delivery vehicles to customer doorsteps.” The company plans to field test the technology and gather real-world insights before scaling deployment.

The deal marks Amazon’s return to autonomous delivery robots after shutting down its Scout program in 2022. Amazon has deployed more than 1 million robots across its operations network since 2012, focusing on warehouse automation and logistics efficiency.

“This acquisition reflects our commitment to a continued investment in research, which we believe has the potential to further improve safety outcomes and the overall delivery experience for delivery service partners and their delivery associates,” an Amazon representative told The Information.

Read more: Amazon acquires Rivr, maker of a stair-climbing delivery robot