Robots will soon be the new deliverymen

Pilot to begin in February

Washington, Jan. 29: The robots of the future will be coming soon, rolling along at a lumbering pace with those goods you just ordered.

The six-wheeled, kneehigh robots from startup Starship Technologies are part of a new wave of automated systems taking aim at the “last mile” delivery of goods to consumers.

Starship is launching a pilot project of robotic deliveries of parcels, groceries and prepared foods in early February in Washington, with a similar test taking place in Redwood City, California.

The startup, created by two of the founders of Skype, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, has already begun testing in several European cities as part of an effort to bring new efficiencies to local delivery.

The goal is to enable delivery within a radius of three kilometers within 15-30 minutes of an order, for $1 or less, with the autonomous robots traveling on sidewalks and alerting consumers of their arrival via smartphone app.

Starship spokesman Henry Harris-Burland said the founders were looking to “disrupt” an industry which had seen little efficiency improvement from new technology. “This will take cars and vans off the road. We can also provide deliveries to the elderly and handicapped.”

The rolling robots are far less expensive to build and operate than drones and face fewer regulatory issues. “We don't see these as competing with drones, we see it as complementary,” he said.

The company, which has its business office in London, engineering in Estonia and some 90 employees, announced in January it had raised $17.2 million, led by Daimler AG with other investors as it moves to expand its testing and partnerships.

— AFP

THE robots roll at a pace of around six kilometers per hour and they “offer a more efficient and economical delivery model than drones”.

THE robots are less expensive to build and operate than drones.