Abu Dhabi, UAE – Nikita Gavrilov, Regional Head of Yango Tech Autonomy at Yango Group, shared progress on autonomous delivery vehicles during the Machines Can Think Summit 2026. Gavrilov spoke in an interview with Justin Cooke, outlining how pilot programs in Dubai are moving into broader deployment.
Gavrilov leads autonomous delivery operations at Yango Tech Autonomy. The team focuses on sidewalk based delivery robots designed for last mile logistics in urban communities.
“We reached near scale readiness,” Gavrilov said. “Pilots over the past nine months delivered strong operational results.”
Yango Tech Autonomy completed pilots at Expo City Dubai and in residential communities across the city. Performance data covered serviceable hours, delivery efficiency, and safety outcomes. These results supported the next phase of expansion through a strategic partnership with Noon Minutes, announced in December.
“With the pilot outcomes, we reached readiness for wider deployment,” Gavrilov said.
Operating in the UAE presents unique technical and social factors. Tall buildings and dense urban layouts required advanced high definition mapping with two centimeter precision. Signal reflection initially created challenges, which the engineering team resolved through revised mapping methods.
“Mapping accuracy was critical,” Gavrilov said. “The team adapted quickly.”
Community onboarding emerged as another key focus. Autonomous robots draw attention from residents, especially children. Public understanding supports safe operation and delivery performance.
“Residents need clarity on how these vehicles operate,” Gavrilov said. “Awareness improves efficiency.”
Gavrilov highlighted primary use cases where autonomous delivery adds value. Gated villa communities and townhouses benefit from direct doorstep delivery. Robots also support peak hours when rider availability drops, helping delivery companies maintain service levels.
“Robots support last mile gaps,” Gavrilov said.
Looking ahead, Gavrilov outlined a phased scale path. New areas require sidewalk access, pedestrian crossings, and local commercial partners. Deployment preparation takes roughly one to one and a half months per area.
At larger scale, city infrastructure plays a central role. Charging stations, storage locations, regulation frameworks, and operational coordination evolve alongside robot density. Electrically powered fleets depend on integrated urban planning.
“Infrastructure growth moves together with scale,” Gavrilov said.
On a personal level, Gavrilov expressed strong enthusiasm for the partnership with Noon. The next phase focuses on expanded locations, increased fleet size, and smoother integration into daily life.
“Success means minimal interaction,” he said. “Robots blend into the city.”
The interview reflected key themes of the Machines Can Think Summit 2026, smart cities, autonomous systems, urban infrastructure, and practical AI deployment.
About Yango Tech Autonomy
Yango Tech Autonomy is a division of Yango Tech under Yango Group. The unit develops autonomous delivery robots for last mile logistics. These robots use AI to deliver food, groceries, and small parcels in urban areas, with pilot operations running in selected cities such as Dubai.
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Interview conducted by Justin Cooke at Machines Can Think Summit 2026
