Just Eat expands into autonomous delivery with UK robot trials
Takeaway firm Just Eat has launched trials of autonomous delivery robots to transport food to customers in Milton Keynes and Bristol.
The robots being deployed in Milton Keynes are developed by RIVR and resemble electronic dogs capable of navigating stairs and pavements to reach the doorstep. The firm says the robots are powered by a system dubbed ‘physical AI’, which allows them to adapt to their surroundings and avoid obstacles such as rubbish bins, grass and pedestrians while moving safely alongside traffic and cyclists.
With a top speed of approximately 15km/h, they’re primarily built for ‘last-mile’ deliveries, with handover process at the restaurant similar to a courier. Each robot has a 40-litre insulated cargo bay with an internal divider to prevent spillage, and customers can unlock the robot’s cargo bin to receive their order.
After a successful launch in Zürich, Just Eat said the partnership with RIVR represents its ambition to take autonomous delivery “from novelty to infrastructure”.
Meanwhile, in Bristol, a different kind of robot developed by start-up Deliver.AI is being deployed. The four-wheeled autonomous device does not have legs like RIVR – making it less capable of ascending stairs.
Just Eat said it has introduced the new technology just ahead of Valentine’s Day, when it typically sees soaring demand for takeaways. CTO Mert Öztekin said: “We’re always innovating to improve the delivery experience for our customers.
“To trial ground robotics, we’ve teamed up with two expert organisations to ensure that we’re learning and working with the very best. For those in Bristol and Milton Keynes who love tech – what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than a robot delivery from your favourite local?”
The trial comes just months after its rival Uber Eats signed a deal with robotics company Starship Technologies to begin autonomous deliveries. Starship’s AI-powered robots have already completed over nine million deliveries across seven countries, but the UK roll-out will start slowly, with the service limited to Leeds and Sheffield initially.
Marko Bjelonic, CEO of RIVR, said: “Expanding our partnership with Just Eat Takeaway.com is an important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities. By automating delivery at the customer’s doorstep, our technology removes friction at the point of handover and creates a more seamless experience for consumers.”
More about Just Eat delivery: https://www.just-eat.co.uk/
