Grocery Deliveries Via Rolling Drones to Launch in D.C. This Fall

Grocery Deliveries Via Rolling Drones to Launch in D.C. This Fall

Starship Technologies, a startup founded by Skype co-founders Janus Friis and Ahti Heinla, is set to launch its autonomous rolling delivery robots in Washington, D.C. this fall. Municipal regulators have approved the use of these sidewalk delivery robots for urban delivery, marking a significant step for the Estonian startup's public testing in the United States.

European Trials and U.S. Expansion

Starship Technologies previously conducted public tests of its robots across Europe in July, with operations taking place in the U.K., Germany, and Switzerland. The company's focus on autonomous ground vehicles for delivery targets a different problem space than their previous venture, Skype.

Robot Capabilities and Design

The Starship robots are described as being reminiscent of wheeled coolers, capable of keeping items cool, which is particularly useful for grocery delivery. They feature six wheels and an antenna for receiving orders from central dispatch. With a maximum speed of 10 mph, they are comparable in speed to joggers. Each robot can carry approximately 40 pounds of goods within its interior, making it suitable for delivering a decent amount of groceries, especially for smaller households.

Regulatory Approvals and Future Outlook

Washington, D.C. is the first city to officially legalize these driverless delivery boxes for sidewalk use. Starship has also conducted tests in San Francisco, utilizing a temporary, limited permit granted by the city. A key question surrounding these deployments is how the robots will fare with public exposure in the U.S. While initial testing in Europe showed no incidents of abuse, real-world usage at scale, especially without human chaperones, may present different challenges.

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