Can WOX Relay operate both indoors and outdoors?

WOX Relay is designed for controlled-environment operation in both indoor and outdoor settings. Specific indoor capabilities — including lift integration — are confirmed during site assessment.

What surfaces can outdoor delivery vehicles handle?

Outdoor autonomous delivery vehicles are designed for paved pathways and service roads. Specific surface requirements are confirmed during site assessment.

How does an outdoor vehicle navigate when GPS is unavailable?

Vehicles designed for mixed environments use sensor-based localisation as a fallback when GPS is unavailable — maintaining accurate positioning using cameras, radar and pre-mapped site data.

Technical 2026-07-13 6 min read

Indoor vs Outdoor
Delivery Robots

Autonomous delivery vehicles are not all the same. Indoor robots are designed for corridors, lifts and controlled building environments. Outdoor vehicles are built for pathways, service roads and campus environments. Some vehicles — like WOX Relay — are designed for both. Understanding the differences helps organisations choose the right solution.

Indoor Delivery Robots

Indoor delivery robots are designed for operation inside buildings — navigating corridors, using lifts and operating in spaces shared with people. They are typically smaller, slower and designed for smooth indoor surfaces. Key applications include hospital corridor delivery, hotel room service logistics and office building supply delivery.

Outdoor Delivery Vehicles

Outdoor autonomous delivery vehicles are designed for operation on pathways, service roads and campus environments. They are typically larger, faster and built to handle outdoor conditions — uneven surfaces, weather variation and longer distances. Key applications include campus parcel delivery, airport inter-terminal transport and industrial park logistics.

Key Technical Differences

The technical differences between indoor and outdoor autonomous delivery vehicles reflect their different operating environments.

Outdoor vehicles require weatherproofing; indoor vehicles typically do not

Outdoor vehicles use GNSS for positioning; indoor vehicles rely on sensor-based localisation

Outdoor vehicles are typically faster and have larger cargo capacity

Indoor vehicles are designed for narrower corridors and lift integration

Some vehicles — like WOX Relay — are designed for both indoor and outdoor operation

Navigation Differences

Indoor navigation relies primarily on sensor-based localisation — cameras, lidar and ultrasonic sensors — because GPS is typically unavailable inside buildings. Outdoor navigation can use GNSS combined with sensor data for more accurate positioning over longer distances. Vehicles designed for both environments must handle the transition between GPS-available and GPS-limited areas.

Use Case Matching

Choosing between indoor and outdoor autonomous delivery depends on the operating environment and the logistics tasks to be automated. Hospital corridor delivery requires an indoor-capable vehicle. Campus parcel delivery requires an outdoor-capable vehicle. Operations that span both environments — like a hospital campus with both indoor and outdoor routes — benefit from a vehicle designed for both.

Summary

Indoor delivery robots are optimised for building environments — corridors, lifts and smooth surfaces. Outdoor delivery vehicles are built for pathways, service roads and campus environments. Vehicles designed for both environments offer the most flexibility for operations that span indoor and outdoor areas. The right choice depends on the specific operating environment and logistics tasks.

FAQ