Self-driving food delivery robots are currently being trialled in Sunderland, marking a significant step in the evolution of food delivery services. Created by Starship Technologies, these cutting-edge robots are already hard at work on city streets and sidewalks thanks to online delivery company Just Eat. More than a dozen restaurants throughout Sunderland have joined the trial. Among them, Koji, a fast casual Asian restaurant, is one of the first to fully embrace this cutting-edge technology.
Fitted with six large rubber wheels, the robots are made to tackle the busy pedestrianised streets of the city’s compact city centre. A large pole adorned with a flashing orange flag alerts pedestrians to the robots’ presence as they traverse sidewalks and roads. With their giant cameras, they’re able to be more nimble and work in a real range of urban environments.
Ahti Heinla was unequivocal about that. He reiterated the point that the robots are meant to assist humans, not take their jobs. Rather, he says they wouldn’t replace workers, but rather augment the existing workforce.
“I think there will be more and more both human couriers and delivery robots,” – Ahti Heinla
Peter Richardson, general manager of Koji, said the robots would be helpful through rush hours and labor shortages. He expressed enthusiasm for the technology, saying,
“It was really important, it’s such a unique thing and not something you expect to see.”
The introduction of these robots has received a largely negative response from the local community. While some residents see the potential benefits, others have raised concerns about their impact on jobs and the risk of vandalism if the project becomes permanent. Local resident Eugene Murphy knew that they had to embrace the new technological age. He wanted to know whether we actually needed the robots at all.
From Starship Technologies’ perspective, the demand for delivery services is soaring. They point out that there are not enough couriers to fulfill this massive demand increase. The company’s mission is to serve those who are less mobile or unable to leave their home too. Through this, they hope to reach more people with timely food deliveries. Those robots free up human couriers to focus on deliveries farther out from urban centres.
Rachel Atkinson’s young son Teddy said he was surprised to see the robots, and that they were a “little bit insane.” This is a good thing because it underscores the excitement and wonder that many residents have about this nascent technology.