The Future of the Norwegian Postal Service
Designing a Nordic-ready autonomous robot to move goods, people, and the future of urban mobility.
Role: Co-designer and researcher. In collaboration with Montaag Design.
Client: Buddy Mobility.
Buddy Mobility, a Norwegian start-up, partnered with Montaag to design and launch an autonomous delivery robotcapable of transporting both goods and people. Developed in collaboration with Posten, Norway’s national mail service, the robot addressed multiple challenges: reducing operational costs from declining mail volumes, generating new revenue streams in parcel delivery, and performing reliably within Norway’s harsh climate and stringent environmental standards.
The project began with an extensive research phase, including over 30 hours of ethnographic interviews, site visits, ride-along commutes, and pilot location analyses across Oslo and surrounding regions. Findings were synthesized into a strategy document that outlined value propositions, guiding principles, and future scenarios—grounded in both local user insights and secondary research on global mobility trends.
Exemplary pages from the research report
After two months of design iterations, the breakthrough came from revisiting an early brainstorm session inspired by Nordic landscapes. Referencing the form of Norway’s mountains and fjords, the design emphasized utility and honesty. Its sloped ridge channeled rainwater and snow away from the mail drawers, ensuring durability through extreme weather.
Functionality was further reinforced with integrated skis and bumpers to withstand Norwegian winters. A red lidar arm, added in final production, provided elevated 360° visibility to detect obstructions and ensure safety.
Collaboration was central to the process: Montaag partnered with Kyburz to develop the autonomous platform and with Last Mile Logistics to construct the storage box. The prototype was unveiled to the Norwegian Minister of Transportation and presented at major European postal and delivery trade shows, positioning Buddy Mobility as a pioneer in next-generation delivery systems.
Promotional video by Montaag Design.
Minister of Transport Ketil Solvik-Olsen at a demo in Arendalsuka.