What’s particularly exciting about this trial from Just Eat UK is that their delivery robots are able to climb stairs! These four-legged robots have been hard at work supporting ten independent restaurants across two cities in the United Kingdom. The initiative aims to enhance food delivery services in urban environments, allowing the robots to overcome challenging obstacles typically encountered in city settings.
The trial, which is now well underway in Milton Keynes and Bristol, sees the robots tested in real-world conditions. In Milton Keynes, business owners such as 12th Street Burgers & Shakes and Moores Fish & Chips are taking part. At the same time, neighbouring Bristol showcases eight restaurants joining in on the fun, with names like Jolly Fryer, Chicken Mews, and Bishopston Fish Bar.
Those four-legged, multi-joint robots are equipped with little wheels on each leg’s foot. No surprise that they are designed to deliver an orange Just Eat box strapped to their backs. Their unique design enables them to scale stairs and other urban obstacles, making them suitable for a variety of delivery scenarios.
Marko Bjelonic, chief executive of RIVR, the firm that developed the robots, placed a lot of importance on this trial. He stated that it represents “an important step in scaling autonomous delivery across European cities.” Furthermore, he noted that “the launch in Milton Keynes reflects a shared focus on practical, automated delivery that integrates seamlessly into existing operations.”
It builds upon an initial autonomous delivery pilot in Switzerland, which saw nearly 1,000 autonomous deliveries completed without incident. As with many items on this list, delivery drones are being tested in Ireland as part of a broader trend across the industry.
With the accelerating wave of digital innovation, Just Eat UK’s program is a harbinger of things to come when it comes to future-ready, smart urban logistics. By leveraging autonomous delivery systems, the company aims to address the growing demand for efficient and reliable food delivery services in bustling city environments.