Amazon acquires RIVR (formerly Swiss-Mile)

2026-03-19 · Publisher : Amazon · Domain : Robotics

Amazon acquires RIVR, a Zurich startup spun out of ETH that builds wheeled-legged quadruped robots for doorstep delivery. Terms were not disclosed.

What changes

Amazon brings in wheeled-legged robot technology able to climb stairs.
The RIVR TWO robot drives at up to 15 km/h and handles steps, rough terrain and gates.
Amazon had already led the $22 million seed round in 2024.
Amazon returns to robotic delivery after shutting down Scout in 2022.

### What changes On March 19, 2026, Amazon acquired RIVR, formerly Swiss-Mile, a startup spun out of an ETH Zurich lab. Its CEO, Marko Bjelonic, announced the deal on LinkedIn, saying it will accelerate the vision of building "general physical AI through doorstep delivery". Financial terms were not disclosed. ### Specifications - RIVR designs quadruped robots with wheels at the end of their legs: they drive on flat ground and walk over obstacles and stairs. - The RIVR TWO robot travels at up to 15 km/h and handles stairs, uneven terrain and gates, where wheeled delivery robots stop. - Amazon, through Bezos Expeditions and the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, had led RIVR's $22 million seed round in 2024. - Paolo Pirjanian, former head of Embodied, joined Amazon in October 2025 as VP of last-mile delivery automation. ### Why it matters Amazon shut down its Scout delivery robot in 2022, saying it did not meet expectations. Buying RIVR revives the topic with technology suited to the "last meter", right to the doorstep. ### Key takeaways An acquisition that brings wheeled-legged locomotion, born in Swiss research, into Amazon's logistics.

Amazon acquires RIVR (formerly Swiss-Mile)

What changes

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