Uber Eats, known for its speedy delivery of restaurant meals, is taking its services in Japan to a whole new level—by employing self-driving robots. Teaming up with Mitsubishi Electric and robotics company Cartken, Uber Eats plans to introduce sidewalk robot deliveries in a designated area of Tokyo by the end of March.
This move marks Uber Eats’ first foray into international autonomous delivery, expanding beyond its current operations limited to select U.S. cities. Cartken, founded in 2019 by former Google employees in Oakland, California, has developed the “Model C” robot, equipped with artificial intelligence for navigation and capable of matching human walking speed. Mitsubishi Electric will oversee the operations in Japan.
Anjali Jindal Naik, Cartken’s cofounder and COO, sees this collaboration as a significant step forward in transforming food delivery, making it more convenient and environmentally friendly for consumers in Japan. This isn’t the first time Uber Eats and Cartken have joined forces; they already provide sidewalk robot deliveries in Miami and Fairfax, Virginia.
In the U.S., Uber Eats has also partnered with robotics companies like Motional, Nuro, and Serve Robotics to test autonomous deliveries in various cities. With the adoption of self-driving technology in food delivery, Uber Eats is not just offering a meal but also serving up a glimpse into the future of urban mobility and logistics.
(Source: CNN | Engadgets | TechCrunch)
