Self-driving food delivery robots have launched a trial in Sunderland. Starship Technologies toiled in relative obscurity creating these robots, and Just Eat is the first to deploy them for online food deliveries. These robots are designed to help during rush hours and fill in staffing gaps, especially in the restaurant industry. The trial so far includes recent authentic customer deliveries for 12 area restaurants. One of those is Koji, a small Asian concept located on High Street West.
The mobile robots scoot along on six large spongy rubber wheels. A big orange striped pole with a flashing flag on top sticks up over their heads, warning people to keep out of their way. Armed with state-of-the-art cameras, they travel the bustling streets and highways of Sunderland’s city centre. This technology is what enables them to be fully autonomous as they journey to deliver food to their customers.
Despite the automation, Starship Technologies stresses that human couriers are not going anywhere. Ahti Heinla, founder and chief executive of Koji, stated, “I think there will be more and more both human couriers and delivery robots.” He further explained that “robots have a key role to play in the delivery of infrastructure to help meet the growing demand and certain routes will still require people to complete deliveries.”
Peter Richardson, general manager at Just Eat, said he was “incredibly optimistic”. It’s a mission he thinks the robots can help him address, with businesses across sectors grappling with staffing shortages. “If one day something did go wrong and drivers went, there you’ve got that back-up, so you can still get that food out,” he said. This vision implies that the robots might function as an AED-like, add-on alternative to RT service during times of high demand.
While developers and businesses rejoice over the promise of this technology, many residents are understandably concerned about what it means. Local resident Eugene Murphy called into question the loss of jobs and the increased risk of vandalism should the project become a permanent fixture. In the same vein, Rachael Atkinson expressed her concerns, saying that the robots would replace “a lot of people’s jobs.”
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) lamented the advent of delivery robots. They referred to the increasing number of deaths as a “shot across the bow,” a warning alarm that requires immediate action. Alex Marshall, the president of the IWGB, strongly condemned the use of these vehicles. That “dystopian” scenario, he said, reflected a rising panic over automation’s impact on a labor economy.
Starship Technologies focused on the societal benefits of their robots. They highlighted that we simply don’t have enough couriers around the world to get deliveries where we want them to go now. The company believes these robots will provide essential services to people with limited mobility or who are unable to leave their home. This expansion will radically increase access to the people who need it most.