China's property giant Vanke has launched a world-first fleet of autonomous robots that deliver goods for 7-Eleven stores in Shenzhen by commuting on subway trains.
The initiative, which debuted on Monday, features 41 robots that board trains during off-peak hours. At each station where a 7-Eleven is located, the robots exit the train and deliver goods directly into the stores. The project, reported by the South China Morning Post citing local news outlet SZNews, is the first of its kind globally.

Operated by VX Logistics, a subsidiary of property giant Vanke, part-owned by Shenzhen Metro, the robots have already caught the attention of curious passengers on their first day, with many stopping to film as they smoothly navigated the train carriages.

Each robot stands about a meter tall and is designed to address a longstanding challenge for shop managers, who have traditionally relied on human workers to transport goods on trolleys to platforms.

With a four-wheel chassis and a sleek, penguin-like appearance, the robots feature glossy dome heads with LED faces that flash friendly eyes and smiles. They are capable of navigating obstacles such as lifts, platform gaps, and train doors with precision, according to Interesting Engineering.

"These robots are specially designed with unique chassis systems that allow them to cross gaps to enter lifts and carriages," Hou Shangjie, head of automation at VX Logistics, said, as cited by SCMP. "They will continue to iterate based on real-world performance"

The project is part of Shenzhen’s "Embodied Intelligent Robot Action Plan," launched in March, which aims to expand the use of service and industrial robots by 2027. The city, already home to over 1,600 robotics companies, is positioning itself as a global leader in robotics and artificial intelligence.