Just Eat UK has been piloting RIVR’s four-legged delivery bots to deliver takeout. Regardless, these robots have a goal to solve the challenges that come with urban spaces. The robots, equipped with small wheels on each foot, are engineered to ascend stairs and navigate various obstacles that may be encountered in bustling cityscapes. This initiative would save taxpayer dollars and other resources by increasing food delivery efficiency through the use of autonomous technology.
The trial is taking place in two cities: Milton Keynes and Bristol. In all, ten eateries are taking part, with eight on Bristol’s home turf. Some of the better known takeaways in Bristol include Jolly Fryer, Chicken Mews and Bishopston Fish Bar. In Milton Keynes, 12th Street Burgers & Shakes can hardly wait to participate in the collaborative. Local fish and chips shop Moores Fish & Chips are participating in the initiative.
Commenting on this partnership between Just Eat UK and RIVR, Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR said that this was a historic milestone. In comment on the milestone, he described it as “important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities.” The robots have already demonstrated their powerful capabilities by autonomously making close to 1,000 successful deliveries. This remarkable accomplishment happened in the shadow of a comparable pilot program in Switzerland.
As an element of the trial, the RIVR robots have an easily recognizable orange Just Eat box atop their backs. They run largely under the watchful eye of staff members located outside the member restaurants. This unique configuration allows for a real-world test bed environment. Here, their robots are navigating actual urban streets, contending with a variety of additional logistical hurdles.
“The launch in Milton Keynes reflects a shared focus on practical, automated delivery that integrates seamlessly into existing operations,” – Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR
Just Eat is currently testing the use of drones for delivery of meals in Ireland. They are even using RIVR robots to ramp up their delivery service. The recent pushups in delivery technology are indicative of a larger trend toward automation in the food service industry.
One purpose of the trial is to gauge how practical it would be to deploy RIVR robots into cities. It equally prioritizes helping them get better integrated with current delivery systems. Success in this venture would set the stage for deployment of autonomous delivery solutions in cities all over Europe.