Keep on rolling

London – Autonomous delivery robots will soon be deployed on the streets of the capital.

• Customers can track the robots through an app and unlock its compartment using a unique code
• The service costs 10–15 times less than other last-mile delivery services, according to creators Starship Technologies

The rise of convenience culture has ushered in a new industry of delivery services including Just Eat, Deliveroo and UberEats. From July 2016, Starship Technologies’ six-wheeled automatons will join their ranks, hitting the streets of London, Bern, Dusseldorf, and Hamburg.

For safety reasons, the robots can only reach speeds of up to four miles per hour and only deliver to locations within a one-mile radius. They are equipped with machine vision, which enables them to identity potential hazards, and run on electricity, making them a more eco-friendly alternative to the traditional delivery van.

Founded by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies has announced partnerships with food delivery services Just Eat and Pronto.