Robotic delivery by Yandex Delivery has officially launched in Yekaterinburg. Autonomous rovers have begun delivering orders to residents in specific districts of the city — Oktyabrsky, Chkalovsky, and Leninsky. At the initial stage, the robots are servicing six Yandex Lavka darkstores located on Stepan Razin, Vainer, Syromolotov, Shchors, Akademika Semikhatova, and Dekabristov streets. The launch marks another step in the geographical expansion of the company's autonomous delivery network in the Urals.
Three Districts and Six Departure Points
The initial service configuration is designed for targeted coverage: six Yandex Lavka darkstores on the aforementioned streets form a logistical framework from which the rovers depart to recipients' addresses. This approach allows the company to test the operation of autonomous transport in real urban conditions — with pedestrian traffic, curbs, and seasonal weather factors — before scaling the service area to new territories.
Plans to Expand the Delivery Zone
In the future, the delivery zone is planned to expand to Verkh-Isetsky, Kirovsky, Zheleznodorozhny, and Ordzhonikidzevsky districts. The number of connected darkstores will be increased to 20. In addition, the rovers will begin fulfilling Yandex Food orders, and stores and retail chains partnering with Yandex Delivery will be able to join the service. Thus, robotic logistics in the city is transforming from a pilot project into a full-fledged infrastructure service with an expanding sender base.
Fourth-Generation Technology
Fourth-generation robots are operating in Yekaterinburg. They are equipped with lidars, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors that help recognize obstacles, traffic lights, and assess the road situation. Six driving wheels with independent suspension allow them to overcome curbs and irregularities, which is critical for operating on city sidewalks. In the event of complex situations, a remote operator can take control, providing a safety margin in non-standard road scenarios.
Cargo Compartment and Simultaneous Delivery of Two Orders
The rover's cargo compartment holds 25 kg and up to 61 liters. It is divided into two independent sections, allowing the robot to carry two orders simultaneously. This layout increases the efficiency of each trip and reduces the average waiting time for recipients, as a single device can cover multiple addresses in one go.
According to a VTsIOM study, 61% of Yekaterinburg residents are ready to regularly use autonomous technologies, including delivery robots. Among the reasons for interest, 58% of respondents named the opportunity to try a new technology. These figures indicate steady demand for innovative delivery services and lower the perception barrier for autonomous transport in the urban environment.
Context: Yekaterinburg in the Yandex City Network
Yekaterinburg has become one of more than ten cities where Yandex rovers operate. Among them are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Tyumen. Over the entire time, the robots have completed over 2 million deliveries. The inclusion of the Ural capital in this network cements its status as one of the key regions for the development of autonomous logistics in Russia.
