Starship Technologies: Autonomous robot delivery

As part of a new pilot scheme, Food delivery robots will be taking to the streets of Cambridge this Thursday, November 16, 2022, in a partnership between Starship Technologies and Cambridgeshire County Council.

The Highways and Transport Committee decided to embrace the robots on the historic streets of Cambridge after receiving positive feedback from shoppers, following the successful Cambourne pilot that began earlier this year.

Fresh groceries can be obtained from local Co-op stores on Perne Road and Cherry Hinton Road, and they can be ordered using the Starship food delivery app, which is accessible for download on both iOS and Android platforms. This partnership will serve approximately 12,200 households residing in the Cherry Hinton and Queen Edith areas of Cambridge.

Using the application, inhabitants have the opportunity to encounter and unlock the automaton upon its arrival. Additionally, they possess the capability to observe the robot’s journey in real-time through an interactive map and request their package to be delivered within sixty minutes.

Since May, Starship’s robots have carried out thousands of deliveries in Cambourne alone, resulting in an estimated reduction of 1,670kg of CO2 emissions and saving approximately 7,798 miles of car journeys in the first month. People have been highly positive, with 98% recommending the robot delivery service, saying that it allows them to fit their shopping around their busy lives and more and more people are using it.

The pilot additionally offers us an opportunity to demonstrate how history and technology can merge across the urban streets as we emerge as the forefront in the forthcoming era of individual, eco-robotic distribution services. In addition to diminishing brief car trips, the robots will offer aid to employed families and the elderly who encounter difficulty in departing their residences to engage in shopping. We are thrilled to observe how the robot delivery service assimilates into the everyday existence of the inhabitants of Cambridge. The progression of technology has long been a fundamental aspect of Cambridge, and this represents merely another stride towards a more environmentally friendly and enduring future.

“Andrew Curtis, the UK Operations Manager at Starship Technologies, expressed his optimism in expanding their service and collaborating closely with Cambridgeshire County Council and Co-op in the upcoming years. Their amicable robots, which have garnered positive feedback, are actively mitigating traffic congestion and carbon emissions in their designated areas. Curtis enthusiastically announced the extension of their on-demand, efficient, and eco-friendly grocery delivery service to an extra 12,200 residences in Cambridge.”

We are pleased to see that the trial in Cambridge has expanded, contributing to a reduction in unnecessary car journeys while providing flexible options for our communities. Co-op stores are well-placed in local communities to provide quick and easy home deliveries, whether it’s last-minute top-ups or a full shop. Convenience, speed, and ease are at the core of our approach, as our customers and members lead busy lives. Co-op is committed to exploring innovative and new ways to increase access to its services and products, as stated by Chris Conway, Director of eCommerce at Co-op.

In contrast to driving to a store, a typical delivery by a Starship robot requires only as much energy as heating a kettle to make a single cup of tea, thus providing noticeable environmental advantages. These robots utilize computer vision-based navigation to accurately map their surroundings, as well as employ a combination of sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to maneuver on sidewalks and avoid any obstructions. Powered by batteries, these lightweight robots travel at the same pace as pedestrians (not exceeding 4mph).

Starship, which was created in 2014 by the co-founders of Skype, currently operates a fully commercial service in several cities and towns in the UK, including Cambourne, Northampton, Bedford, and Milton Keynes, as well as in five countries around the world.

About Starship Technologies.

Alastair Westgarth, the CEO, and Janus Friis, the co-founder of Skype, founded Starship Technologies. Ahti Heinla, the chief architect of Skype, also played a key role in the establishment of the company. The robots developed by Starship have successfully completed four million autonomous deliveries around the world and have traveled millions of miles. These robots are specifically designed to locally deliver packages, groceries, and food within minutes. Starship Technologies is revolutionizing deliveries with its autonomous robots.

Website: https://www.Starship.Xyz/follow / starshipdeliveries.Com.

Facebook: @StarshipTechnologies.

Twitter: @Starshiprobots.

Instagram: @Starshiprobots.

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About Co-op.

The Co-op is recognized as a leader for its community-led programs and social goals, standing up for the needs of its members and believing in the existence of these things. The Co-op, one of the world’s largest consumer cooperatives, operates across various interests including energy, legal and insurance services, funerals, and food. It provides products to over 5,100 stores, including its own retail and wholesale business, as well as independent cooperative societies. The Co-op also operates over 2,500 food stores and over 800 funeral homes. Employing over 62,000 people, the Co-op has an annual turnover of £11.2 billion.