Delivery robots like the ones Just Eat UK is currently piloting come equipped with four legs. This is a notable step forward for autonomous delivery systems in actual urban conditions. The trial is being run in partnership with RIVR and sees ten independent restaurant partners take part across Milton Keynes and Bristol. This project seeks to evaluate these robots’ abilities as they speed through complex city structures, such as the imposing stairway.
Launched at the end of 2022, these four-legged robots—complete with tiny wheels on each foot—were made specifically for increasingly complex city environments. They make couriers easily recognizable during deliveries, as they all wear the same orange Just Eat box on their backs. As of Bristol’s trial launch, eight area restaurants, including Jolly Fryer, Chicken Mews, and Bishopston Fish Bar, are making the switch. Meanwhile, in Milton Keynes, popular eateries like 12th Street Burgers & Shakes and Moores Fish & Chips are involved.
Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR, highlighted the importance of this ongoing trial. He stated that it represents “an important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities.” This new partnership will increase delivery efficiency. Most importantly, it hones in on implementing automated solutions into existing restaurant operations.
Those four-legged robots are designed to leap over all sorts of hurdles that may be encountered in city environments. Their capacity to traverse stairs sets them apart from other delivery methods in use today. During the pilot, the robots completed over 40,000 autonomous deliveries, building on a previous successful pilot of a similar innovative approach in Switzerland.
Now, Just Eat UK are incredibly interested in the potential of delivery drones over the Irish Sea. This Releaf initiative is just one aspect of their overall mission to reshape the delivery ecosystem. Milton Keynes and Bristol are among the cities that are hosting trials already. In all three of these trials, we hope to learn how best to implement autonomous technologies into regular, real-world delivery contexts.
Bjelonic noted that “the launch in Milton Keynes reflects a shared focus on practical, automated delivery that integrates seamlessly into existing operations.” This initiative further illustrates Just Eat UK’s commitment to innovation. In doing so, it sets the stage for the future of urban logistics overall.
Just Eat UK and RIVR are currently working directly to deliver an exciting trial. As such, the benefits of these results could pave the way for similar technologies to be widely adopted in urban areas. These robots can help provide cost-effective and dependable delivery solutions for the customers we serve. In doing so, they’ll reinvigorate their local economies and keep more business in town.