Segway DeliveryBot Series

The Segway DeliveryBot Series comprises autonomous mobile robots designed for indoor and outdoor delivery applications across hospitals, hotels, office buildings, and commercial facilities, developed by Ninebot’s Segway Robotics division.

Product Overview

Segway Robotics launched its delivery robot lineup in 2019, targeting the growing demand for autonomous last-mile delivery solutions. The product family includes the S2 and D2 models for indoor environments and the X1 for outdoor inter-building delivery, all sharing a common technology platform featuring LiDAR-based navigation, visual obstacle detection, and cloud-based fleet management.

In healthcare settings, these robots perform logistics tasks including medication delivery between pharmacy and nursing stations, meal distribution to patient rooms, and transport of medical supplies and specimens. The contactless delivery capability gained particular prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Segway robots were deployed in Chinese hospitals and quarantine hotels to reduce infection transmission risks.

Key Features

Designed for hospital medication runs and inter-floor logistics, the Segway DeliveryBot handles up to 300 deliveries per day with an average 8-minute turnaround per task.

Autonomous Navigation: Multi-sensor fusion combining LiDAR, visual cameras, and depth sensors enables centimeter-level positioning accuracy. The SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm builds and continuously updates environmental maps without manual intervention.

Elevator Integration: Proprietary IoT-based elevator control modules allow robots to independently call elevators, select floors, and navigate between levels. The system works with existing elevator infrastructure through non-invasive signaling modules or direct IoT integration.

360° Obstacle Avoidance: Reinforcement learning-based algorithms detect and avoid dynamic obstacles including human feet, moving objects, and unexpected barriers. The system adapts to crowded environments typical of hospital corridors and lobbies.

Multi-Robot Coordination: Cloud-based fleet management platform coordinates multiple robots operating simultaneously, optimizing delivery routes, managing charging schedules, and preventing traffic conflicts in shared spaces.

Contactless Delivery: Anti-pinch compartment doors and role-based authentication at each delivery stage ensure secure, touchless handoffs suitable for healthcare environments requiring infection control.

Technical Specifications

Designed for multi-floor hospital and commercial delivery, the S2/D2 indoor model supports up to 300 contactless deliveries per day while the outdoor X1 carries 350 liters of cargo between buildings.

Clinical Applications

While Segway DeliveryBots are general-purpose commercial robots rather than medical devices, they serve several functions in healthcare facilities:

Pharmacy Logistics: Transporting medications from central pharmacy to nursing units, reducing pharmacist and nurse walking time while maintaining delivery records.

Meal Delivery: Distributing patient meals from kitchen to floors, particularly valuable during infectious disease outbreaks requiring isolation protocols.

Supply Transport: Moving medical consumables, linens, and equipment between storage areas and clinical departments.

Specimen Transport: Carrying laboratory specimens from collection points to central laboratories (in appropriate containment).

Document Delivery: Distributing medical records, reports, and administrative documents across large hospital campuses.

Regulatory Status

Segway DeliveryBots are classified as commercial service robots, not medical devices. As general-purpose logistics equipment, they do not require medical device regulatory approval:

The robots must comply with relevant safety standards for autonomous mobile robots and commercial equipment in their operating jurisdictions, but do not undergo medical device registration processes.

Deployment Examples

Segway delivery robots have been deployed in healthcare settings including:

• Shenzhen quarantine hotels during COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
• Multiple Chinese hospitals for contactless medication and meal delivery
• Industrial park medical clinics within office complexes

The broader commercial deployment includes partnerships with hotel chains (Marriott, Hilton, Jinjiang, Atour, Greenland) with over 100 million cumulative deliveries across nearly 50 countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Segway DeliveryBot transport medications in hospitals?

Yes, Segway DeliveryBots can transport medications between pharmacy and nursing units. However, they are not medical devices and do not have temperature control or specialized pharmaceutical handling features. They are suitable for ambient medication transport in appropriate containers.

How does the robot navigate between floors?

The robot uses Ninebot’s proprietary elevator control system, which can interface with existing elevators through either non-invasive signaling modules or direct IoT integration. The robot autonomously calls the elevator, enters, selects the destination floor, and exits without human assistance.

What is the difference between S2, D2, and X1 models?

S2 and D2 are indoor delivery robots optimized for multi-floor buildings with elevator integration. D2 is an upgraded version of S2 with enhanced navigation and larger capacity. X1 is designed for outdoor delivery between buildings, featuring weather resistance and larger cargo capacity (350L).

Do hospitals need special infrastructure to deploy these robots?

Deployment requires initial mapping of the facility and installation of elevator control modules. The robots can navigate using existing WiFi infrastructure and do not require floor markers or guide rails. Implementation typically involves a setup period for mapping and system integration.