Shenzhen’s AI robots ride the subway to deliver goods, redefining urban logistics with smart tech and real-time data.
Introduction
Urban logistics is undergoing a quiet revolution—underground. In a groundbreaking move, Shenzhen has launched the world’s first subway-based robotic delivery system, where penguin-shaped autonomous robots ride trains to restock metro-based 7-Eleven stores. Powered by AI-driven dispatching, lidar navigation, and real-time data optimization, this innovation addresses a long-standing challenge: last-mile delivery in high-density transit environments. As we look ahead to DSC Next 2026, Shenzhen’s pilot emerges as a compelling example of how data science, robotics, and smart infrastructure can deliver impactful, scalable solutions.
Shenzhen has unveiled the world’s first subway-based robotic delivery service, leveraging dozens of penguin-shaped robots to transform how supplies reach underground retail stores. This innovative solution aims to optimize urban logistics for a city famed for its high population density, technological ambition, and sprawling metro network.
The Automated Underground Supply Chain
Deployed by VX Logistics, a subsidiary of real estate giant Vanke and part-owned by Shenzhen Metro, these penguin-shaped robots stand about a meter tall and feature glowing LED faces designed to interact with their urban surroundings in a friendly and eye-catching manner. Each unit is equipped with panoramic lidar sensors for autonomous navigation, along with AI-powered dispatching software that dynamically calculates the fastest, most efficient routes based on real-time data—including orders, store locations, and live train schedules.
Operating primarily during off-peak hours, the robots autonomously navigate elevators, escalators, and platforms to board Line 2 trains. Their specially engineered chassis allow them to cross platform gaps unassisted, ensuring a seamless and safe delivery process. Once aboard, they deliver goods to more than 100 7-Eleven stores located throughout the city’s subway stations.
Tackling Urban Logistics Challenges
Traditional delivery services have long struggled with supplying underground stores. Delivery workers previously had to park above ground, manually unload parcels, and transport them through crowded metro entrances and corridors—a time-consuming and often cumbersome process, especially during peak hours. With roughly 9 million commuters using the Shenzhen metro daily, congestion is a serious concern.
By deploying 41 robots as part of this pilot, VX Logistics aims to ensure that supplies reliably reach subway shops without adding to human congestion. Each robot can handle multiple deliveries as needed, and the fleet’s capacity is designed to meet even peak traffic demands for all metro-based 7-Eleven outlets.
Impact on Smart City Initiatives
This robotic delivery initiative is a pillar of Shenzhen’s broader “Embodied Intelligent Robot Action Plan,” introduced in March 2025. The strategy seeks to cement Shenzhen’s reputation as a robotics innovation hub with an eye on expanding the adoption of service and industrial robots citywide by 2027.
With more than 1,600 robotics firms calling the city home, this high-visibility program is viewed as a blueprint for scaling automation across China’s urban transit systems. VX Logistics envisions the next generation of robots transporting packages for different stops simultaneously and linking their routes with surface-level logistics networks, creating a flexible, citywide delivery artery.
Reactions and Future Prospects
The public debut drew curiosity and excitement; commuters frequently paused to photograph or film the robots as they traveled alongside passengers inside subway carriages. Store managers have welcomed the change, citing significant efficiency gains and reduced physical workloads for their staff.
As the pilot continues, VX Logistics plans to refine the robots’ design and capabilities, using real-world insights to improve operations and expand functionality. The ultimate goal: to reshape supply chain logistics beneath city streets—making autonomous robotics a routine feature of urban life.
Conclusion
Shenzhen’s robotic subway delivery isn’t just a technological novelty—it’s a preview of the intelligent cities to come. By integrating real-time analytics, AI-driven routing, and autonomous navigation, the system transforms public transport into a dynamic logistics network. As DSC Next 2026 explores the next wave of urban automation and AI-powered infrastructure, Shenzhen’s model will spark new conversations on how data science can move not just information—but entire economies—more intelligently and efficiently.
Reach us on WhatsApp