Starship Technologies has launched its autonomous grocery-rickshaw food delivery robots to Sunderland, in partnership with online delivery conglomerate Just Eat. The trial features real live customer orders from a dozen local restaurants—including Koji. This would be a major advance toward automating food delivery. These robots have six rugged rubber wheels and a pulsing orange flag. They weave in and out of traffic without a second thought.
The goal of the trial is to improve service efficiency and increase productivity, especially during peak times and with driver shortages. Peter Richardson, general manager of Koji restaurant says the first response to the robots has been hugely positive. He noted that the technology will allow human-powered couriers to focus deliveries outside of typical urban core areas. At the same time, it allows them to address pressing priorities in ever-expanding cities.
“It’s not taking away from the human side, because there’s always the option, but if you think about Christmas, New Year, Ramadan, then you’ve got things where the robots can take over when people want time off.” – Peter Richardson
Starship Technologies makes the point that they’re not doing this to put humans out of work. Expanding on this, Ahti Heinla, founder and CEO of Starship Technologies, said that there was an immediate demand for 1 million more couriers around the globe. He equally emphasized the crucial benefits that delivery services can bring to individuals who are more immobile or homebound. He’s an advocate for the idea that bringing robots into the delivery ecosystem is a way to augment human deliveries, not replace them.
“We are adding a new delivery option and it doesn’t replace people.” – Ahti Heinla
Even with this optimism, community members are justifiably concerned about the potential impacts of robotic couriers on jobs. Rachel Atkinson’s young son, Teddy, had just one word to describe the robots—“a bit crazy.” He has voiced concern over how they would impact the availability of jobs, too. Atkinson herself echoed those very same sentiments, stating that she was “very afraid” that this kind of technology would replace jobs.
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) raised alarms about the introduction of delivery robots in the workforce. IWGB president Alex Marshall went so far as to call the situation “dystopian.” He cautioned that trusting this technology could threaten millions of workers’ livelihoods.
Eugene Murphy agreed with the spirit of keeping up with technology, but asked if delivery robots were really necessary. Shaun Taylor was rightly proud to showcase Sunderland as the perfect laboratory to trial this groundbreaking approach. He said the city is changing in step with the changing times.
“I think there will be more and more both human couriers and delivery robots.” – Ahti Heinla
Starship Technologies is doing a trial in Sunderland right now. This trial is a step toward the future where technology is central to fulfilling a growing consumer demand, but it is also a step fulfilling the future that humans need to thrive. The outcome of this initiative could shape the landscape of food delivery systems across the UK and beyond.