The paper aims to solve the problem of ''broken chain'' in the short-distance cold chain transportation process in response to China's growing demand for cold chain distribution. A cold chain distribution robot with a trailer structure was designed. At the same time, a control system of the cold chain distribution robot was designed based on the Robot Operating System. The STM32 controller was used to the lower computer of the control system to realize the motion control of the robot. The Mini PC was used as the core of the upper computer to improve the loop detection method in the algorithm. The robot could automatically change the function of the delivery trailer and the object at any time, and realize the mapping and navigation functions of the robot. Experiments show that the cold chain distribution robot is timely and accurate in the environment with similar feature values such as the promenade. It meets the practical requirements and can realize the short-distance cold chain distribution.