You might like… Just Eat UK has started trials of Packlink’s four-legged delivery robots, meant to navigate complicated urban ecosystems and up the stairs. The full, real-world scale testing takes place in Milton Keynes and Bristol. There, the robots will serve as delivery aides for local restaurants. This unique project is designed to maximize the efficiency of food delivery services in high-density urban environments.
In Milton Keynes, two restaurants, 12th Street Burgers & Shakes and Moores Fish & Chips, are participating in the trial. Just as in Leeds, eight indie chippy shops in Bristol –– such as Jolly Fryer, Chicken Mews and Bishopston Fish Bar –– are competing. RIVR equips these robots with cutting-edge technology. They can navigate difficult urban barriers such as stairs with ease, making them a cool solution for food delivery.
With four legs that each end in multi-directional wheels, the bots can roll over obstacles or walk through tall grass or rocky terrain. Each robot is designed with a mobile delivery pod in mind, specifically an orange Just Eat box. This design prevents pilfering deliveries when the robots are in transit. During the trial, individuals can be seen handling the robots outside participating restaurants, highlighting the practical application of this technology.
Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR, said that this partnership between Just Eat UK and RIVR is an important step. He stated that this initiative represents “an important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities.” Bjelonic further remarked, “The launch in Milton Keynes reflects a shared focus on practical, automated delivery that integrates seamlessly into existing operations.”
This trial builds on the success of an initial pilot in Switzerland, which recently wrapped up almost 1,000 successful autonomous deliveries. The need for faster, more efficient and more innovative solutions to delivery is greater than ever. In reply, Just Eat UK has begun testing delivery drones in Ireland, showcasing its dedication to pursuing various forms of autonomous delivery.
We are now deploying the robots in real city environments as pilots. These trials, which happen in Milton Keynes and Bristol, allow us to refine them through real-world operational challenges. These robots can zip with relative ease over staircases and other urban hurdles. Though seemingly small, these changes could add up to vastly improving the future of food delivery services.