Just Eat UK has begun the first UK trials of a four-legged fleet of RIVR robots that deliver food to improve delivery efficiency. This programme is a collaboration with a cohort of ten restaurants in the UK’s two cities, Milton Keynes and Bristol. The trial aims to evaluate the efficiency of these autonomous robots in navigating urban environments, especially in overcoming challenging obstacles such as stairs.
In Milton Keynes, the trial features two participating restaurants: 12th Street Burgers & Shakes and Moores Fish & Chips. In Bristol, eight restaurants are currently trialing the robot delivery system. Among them are Jolly Fryer, Chicken Mews, and Bishopston Fish Bar. The robots are equipped with wheels on each of their four legs, enabling them to climb stairs and other urban challenges effectively.
In the real-world testing phase, researchers watched a RIVR robot at work. On the way out, it crisscrossed a steep set of open-air staircase, brick, flanked by grass. This is an important enabling capability to be able to deliver to customers wherever they are without obstacle.
The collaboration between food delivery giant Just Eat UK and autonomous tech provider RIVR RTS represents an important step forward in the world of robotic delivery. Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR, stated that this collaboration represents “an important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities.” He further emphasized, “The launch in Milton Keynes reflects a shared focus on practical, automated delivery that integrates seamlessly into existing operations.”
This trial comes on the heels of a successful pilot program in Switzerland, which saw nearly 1,000 autonomous deliveries completed without issue. Besides ebikes, Just Eat UK is searching for more unusual delivery methods, such as testing delivery drones in Ireland.
This new trial will be the first to test the effectiveness of RIVR robots in actual large city environments. We’re going to be tracking data on how well they’re succeeding in making delivery faster. Each robot does so while proudly carrying an orange Just Eat box on its back. This unique touch makes them instantly recognizable as members of the Just Eat delivery army.