Next Steps

Driverless vehicles can make urban delivery more efficient, but large numbers of sidewalk robots pose their own problems, says Karl Ronn, managing director of consulting firm Innovation Portfolio Partners and former head of research and development at Procter & Gamble. Heinla says Starship is seeking additional funding while it further refines its robots for pilot programs in other cities. �

Specs The six-wheeled electric vehicle uses a 3G or 4G Internet connection and mapping software to find its way from a retailer to customers who’ve placed orders via an app or a website. Early tests Starship has tested its robots on sidewalks in 22...