ALBAWABA - In the streets of Tokyo, a futuristic green self-driving delivery vehicle announces, "Caution: robot!", as it makes its way to a pork cutlet restaurant to collect a meal ordered through Uber Eats.
This marks the beginning of robot-led deliveries in a small area of the city, with the American food app planning to expand the service across Japan in the future.
Facing a rise in labor shortages, Japan revised its traffic laws to allow delivery robots on public roads last year. Companies like Panasonic are also testing new machines for transporting goods alongside Uber Eats' boxy-eyed robots.
(Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
The delivery bots, equipped with sensors to avoid obstacles, have unique features like square headlights and wheels to navigate the streets independently. Operating at a speed of up to 5.4 kilometers per hour with safety measures such as flashing lights and a standby human operator, these robots are set to revolutionize food deliveries in Tokyo.
Initially, the service's reach in Tokyo will be limited, similar to Uber Eats' existing self-driving delivery services in North America. Alvin Oo, an executive at Uber Eats Japan, mentioned that the robots will initially require customers to meet them outside.
However, Oo envisions a future where robots could deliver to specific locations within high-rise buildings and eventually expand their reach to rural regions facing transportation challenges.
(Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
While emphasizing that the introduction of delivery robots will complement human delivery partners rather than replace them, Uber Eats aims to innovate its delivery services in response to Japan's evolving demographics and labor dynamics.
Despite a recent history of labor strikes and criticisms of worker classifications, the launch of robot-led food deliveries in Tokyo shows a step towards efficient and futuristic delivery solutions, garnering both curiosity and approval from onlookers.
