The following report is by Tech Crunch:
The partnership is slated to last through the beginning of 2026.
This expansion not only validates Serve’s goal to mass commercialize robotics for autonomous delivery, but it also signals that Uber is furthering its commitment to autonomy. Last week, Uber announced Waymo’s autonomous vehicles would be available for ride-hail and delivery on Uber’s platform starting in Phoenix later this year. Uber is also working with Motional to deliver food in Santa Monica via the company’s self-driving Hyundai IONIQ 5s.
Serve and Uber’s partnership began a year ago as a pilot in West Hollywood. Since then, Serve’s robotic deliveries with Uber have grown more than 30% month-over-month, with over 200 restaurants in West Hollywood, Hollywood and Fairfax now participating. The bots now operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve.
We expect our rapid growth on Uber Eats to continue. We currently have a fleet of 100 robots in Los Angeles, and we expect to operate an increasing number of them on Uber Eats as our coverage and delivery volume on Uber increases.
Kashani told TechCrunch.
That fleet is also shared with Serve’s other partners, like 7-Eleven, which recently launched robotic sidewalk delivery with Serve in LA.
Serve didn’t say which markets would be next for its partnership with Uber, but the company is eyeing San Jose, Dallas and Vancouver. The startup has also recently completed pilots in Arkansas with Walmart and Pizza Hut in Vancouver.
The companies also didn’t disclose the value of the deal, but Kashani said that Serve’s business model is delivery-as-a-service, meaning Serve gets paid after completing each delivery.
Serve describes its sidewalk bots as capable of Level 4 autonomy. Level 4 is a designation by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) that means the vehicle can handle all aspects of driving in certain conditions without human intervention. However, when robots come across edge cases, such as police tape or construction, they stop and ask for remote supervisors to intervene. Kashani says the robots can reroute if they face obstacles or obstruction.
Supervisors also help with street crossings, but Serve’s robots can predict driver inattention and avoid collision on their own.
This is something remote supervisors can do little to help with given how quickly cars appear, versus the delays caused by network latency and human reaction time.
Said Kashani.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
[14] As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. [15] The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. Proverbs 26:14-15
It should be worth noting that these are not the only companies offering an identical service, as I have reported on another one of them called Starship Delivery last year.
These investments and developments once again continue to steal jobs while furthering the autonomous convenience that many elites want for smart city life.
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
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I was wondering what if someone tried messing around with these delivery robots (Warning, beat-heavy, mind-control music plays along with this video):
We Tried To Steal Food From A Delivery Robot:
How do they expect these robots to maneuver in the elements especially snow, ice and thunderstorms?