Just Eat UK has started a trial with fully autonomous, delivery robots. These robots are designed to take on stairs and other challenging urban challenges in the real world on city streets. The robots RIVR have developed happen to be autonomous four-legged creatures, and so far these robots have been testing in Milton Keynes and Bristol alongside ten independent restaurants.
It’s a great step in the right direction toward improving delivery service as evidenced by the scale of the initiative. Some of the participating businesses in Milton Keynes include 12th Street Burgers & Shakes, and Moores Fish & Chips. Eight participating restaurants have signed up for the trial in Bristol. This extends to places like Jolly Fryer, Chicken Mews, and Bishopston Fish Bar.
RIVR robots feature four small wheels on each foot, allowing them to quickly roll across rocky, muddy, or sandy terrain. They strap a bright orange Just Eat delivery box to their backs. This forward thinking design not only provides a superior aesthetic to busy urban streetscapes, but can increase delivery efficiency.
Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR, explained what the partnership with Just Eat UK represents. He stated that it represents an “important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities.”
In past RIVR trials, robots made almost 1,000 autonomous deliveries with a success rate of 96% in Switzerland, churning through real-world environments that put them to the test. The new trial aims to replicate that promising success. It will test the robots’ performance in the varied environments of Milton Keynes and Bristol.
Just Eat UK is clearly committed to continuing to find innovative and efficient delivery solutions. On the other side of the Atlantic, they’re already getting started with testing delivery drones over in Ireland. This comprehensive strategy aims to improve ease of use for diners and, at the same time, make restaurant operations more efficient.
Bjelonic highlighted the significance of this launch, noting, “The launch in Milton Keynes reflects a shared focus on practical, automated delivery that integrates seamlessly into existing operations.”
This pragmatic trial will provide important information on the “real-world” effectiveness of TAVR. It will help illuminate just how realistic urban autonomous robots on-demand food deliveries truly are. Just Eat UK is focused on improving its delivery operations with tech. This new innovation may be paving the way for more widespread rollout of this type across Europe.