Have you ever imagined ordering food and having a small wheeled robot deliver it? Residents of the United Kingdom, specifically in the city of Leeds, England, will be able to experience this novelty from Uber Eats later this year.
The autonomous robot delivery system will be implemented in December in Leeds, with plans to expand to other European countries in 2026.
In the United States, the system is expected to arrive in 2027, but there is no timeline yet for other markets.
The autonomous robots, equipped with artificial intelligence, were developed by Starship Technologies, a leading company in autonomous delivery technology.
They have already completed over nine million deliveries across seven countries, providing what they call “next-generation delivery experiences for consumers.”
Starship robots, powered by a patented battery with an 18-hour operating capacity, will operate at autonomy level 4, able to complete deliveries in under 30 minutes for distances up to 3.2 kilometers.
“An average Starship delivery uses as little energy as it takes to boil water in a kettle,” the company stated.
They are equipped with obstacle detection technology, including radar sensors, neural networks, and 12 cameras. Combined with AI, this allows the robot to use its “awareness” to avoid objects and people.
Each robot can carry up to three shopping bags inside a secure box, maintaining items at the appropriate hot or cold temperature.
Only the customer can open the box using their phone. If an unauthorized individual attempts to open it, sirens will sound to indicate a delivery problem.
Photos: Starship. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
