The robots of the future will be coming soon, rolling along at a lumbering pace with those goods you just ordered.
The six-wheeled, knee-high 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 the US capital 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 3km within 15-30 minutes of an order, for US$1 or less, with the autonomous robots travelling on pavements and alerting consumers of their arrival via a phone app.
