LOMBY

LOMBY Inc. is a Japanese firm developing autonomous delivery robots to address labor shortages in the last-mile logistics market, a challenge intensified by the country's aging population and the growth of e-commerce. Founded in April 2022 by CEO Tomoharu Uchiyama, the company is headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Uchiyama's background includes experience in the aerospace division at Itochu Corporation and founding Yper Inc. in 2017, a logistics startup that created the "OKIPPA" delivery bag to reduce re-deliveries. This prior experience in logistics provided him with deep insights into the sector's challenges, leading to the establishment of LOMBY to focus on the significant issue of last-mile manpower shortages.

The company's core offering is the 'LOMBY' autonomous delivery robot, designed to operate on public sidewalks at speeds up to 6 km/h. The flagship LM-A model is a fully autonomous robot that utilizes 3D map data for navigation, allowing it to operate in various weather conditions and for multiple units to be deployed simultaneously. It features both remote control and autonomous driving capabilities, enabling 24-hour delivery services. The robots are engineered for a delivery radius of 2-3 km from a retail location, making them suitable for local commerce such as convenience stores and supermarkets. This service operates on a usage-based model, eliminating the need for clients to bear hiring or standby costs for delivery personnel.

LOMBY has pursued strategic collaborations, notably a joint development agreement with Suzuki Motor Corporation. This partnership focuses on designing and developing the robot's base, leveraging Suzuki's expertise from its electric wheelchair business to reduce mass production costs by sharing common parts. The company also works with partners for proof-of-concept trials, including a project with 7-Eleven Japan to deliver orders from its "7NOW" app to customers' homes. LOMBY has secured seed funding from investors including Drone Fund, United Corporation, and Suzuki Global Ventures to advance its technology and prepare for mass production. The company's development efforts have also been recognized and supported by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Keywords: last-mile delivery, autonomous robots, logistics automation, delivery-as-a-service, sidewalk robotics, robotics-as-a-service (RaaS), Japanese startup, e-commerce logistics, local delivery, remote operation robotics, 3D mapping navigation, retail delivery solutions, urban logistics, Tomoharu Uchiyama, Suzuki collaboration, food delivery robot, grocery delivery robot, automated logistics, smart city infrastructure, robotic delivery platform