Sunderland has been chosen as a testing city for a fleet of food delivery robots shipped in by online delivery firm Just Eat. This should be seen as a major breakthrough in their delivery approach. The trial lets customers place live orders from the dozen local restaurants taking part, including Koji, an Asian fusion restaurant on High Street West. This new effort seeks to address staffing shortage issues and improve peak delivery efficiency, especially during busy times of year.
Estonia-based Starship Technologies, co-founded by Skype’s creators, has created pizza delivery bots with six fat rubber wheels. Guided by sensors and sophisticated algorithms, these robots are able to map the complex environment of Sunderland city centre with detailed advanced cameras. Each one of these colorful robots has an impressive 2-meter tall pole, capped with a bright orange flashing flag. This attention-grabbing function warns bystanders of their presence while they travel through the contemporary environment.
Peter Richardson, owner of Koji, was largely optimistic about the robots. He showcased how they could help solve a significant challenge many businesses, especially mom-and-pop restaurants, experience during peak-demand periods. Richardson noted that so far, customers have showered the program with praise. That means the robots are passing with flying colors their first trial period phase.
Not everyone shares the same enthusiasm. Alex Marshall, president of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), shared concerns about the new delivery robots. He thinks that if introduced properly, they can make life better for workers. He referred to them as “dystopian,” stoking concerns over their ability to do devastating damage to jobs in the industry. Rachael Atkinson, another local resident, believes the idea is “a little nuts.” Still, she fears that this tech could displace millions of current workers.
Ahti Heinla, founder and chief executive of Starship Technologies, which led the initiative, strongly defended it. First, he strongly asserted that the robots are not intended to displace workers. Their aim, he continued, is to get couriers delivering in places more distant from city centres. Heinla spoke to one major challenge—there simply aren’t enough couriers on the planet. Specifically, these robots could benefit people who have less mobility, or who can’t easily leave the house, by expanding delivery service to those communities.
The trial takes place against the background of Sunderland city centre. Regardless, it’ll be fascinating to watch this technology redefine the future of food delivery. Support from the community will be imperative as it watches to see how these robots will perform. They’re hopeful and excited to see how these machines will change roles and create new efficiencies at restaurants and in the restaurant workforce over time.