Carrying the day

Gita, which is capable of carrying up to 40lb, uses artificial intelligence (AI) either to navigate independently within a mapped environment or to follow a human operator. The cargo-carrying vehicle operates at a top speed of 22 miles per hour, enabling it to keep pace with someone riding a bike but with the agility to avoid oncoming objects in the vicinity.

Heralding the next iteration of convenience-focused shopping, the Gita can free up time for consumers and increase how much shopping they can do. It removes the need to complete mundane transport chores, freeing owners to dedicate themselves to more complex and creative everyday tasks.

‘The transport and robotics industries tend to focus on optimising tasks and displacing labour,’ Jeffrey Schnapp, CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward, told Business Wire. ‘We are developing products that augment and extend human capabilities, instead of simply seeking to replace them.’