A robot in Miami delivering food haveA little autonomous vehicle approaches a person on the sidewalk and stops. The person then reaches below, opens the hatch, and removes the ordered meal. This is not a scene from a science fiction film; rather, it is the launch of Miami-Dade residents’ access to Uber Eats’ newest method of food delivery.
Cartken, a technology firm based in California, and Uber announced a partnership on Thursday that will allow Cartken’s self-driving robots to fulfill customer orders for Uber Eats. For the time being, the robot can deliver food to residents in the Dadeland neighborhood.
aims to extend its robot meal delivery service to additional cities and college campuses around the country, in addition to the remainder of Miami-Dade County. On the campuses of Ohio State University and the University of Arizona, as well as in several locations in California, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan, Cartken’s robots are currently delivering food.
Customers who live in areas where automated delivery is possible are not charged extra to have food delivered to them by a robot. They are informed via their Uber app that a robot will handle delivery, and they will receive updates on its whereabouts until it comes. Customers use their smartphones to open the robot’s storage compartment when it arrives and remove the food they purchased.
In addition to the remainder of Miami-Dade County, the company wants to expand its robot meal delivery service to additional cities and college campuses across the nation. Cartken’s robots are currently delivering food on the campuses of Ohio State University and the University of Arizona, as well as in a number of places in California, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.
There are no additional fees for automated delivery for customers who reside in certain areas. They are notified that a robot will manage delivery via their Uber app, and they will get updates on its whereabouts until it arrives. When the robot arrives, customers use their smartphones to enter the storage compartment and take the meal they ordered.
In a statement, Bersch said, “We are thrilled about how this relationship with Uber can bring the benefits of robotics to food delivery—and ultimately create more connected communities. Together, we have the chance to lessen traffic congestion, support neighborhood businesses in expanding their delivery capabilities, and provide fast, convenient, and emission-free deliveries to customers.
Cartken and Miami-based digital company Reef collaborated in 2021 to develop a delivery service for the city’s urban ghost kitchens. For automated food delivery, a quarter-mile radius around Brickell or downtown Miami was required.
