"Your 2am Ben & Jerry's might soon be delivered by what looks like the love child of Wall-E and Lightning McQueen. This week, DoorDash unveiled an intentionally adorable delivery robot named Dot, which it's piloting in the Phoenix area, with plans for a wide rollout in the metro area by the year's end. The anthropomorphic food box on wheels is DoorDash's first foray into ground-based autonomous delivery-a frontier many companies have struggled to conquer due to the challenge of navigating chaotic streets without angering pedestrians."
"The company says Dot's sensor-laden droid is road-capable, with a top speed of 20 mph, and nimble enough to navigate busy sidewalks, bike lanes, and parking lots. Dot can carry a 30-pound delivery haul with space for up to six pizzas. The robot itself weighs 350 pounds and stands nearly five feet tall-which its creators hope will discourage anyone from messing with it. But if Dot does run into trouble, there are no remote operating capabilities, so field staff would have to be dispatched."
DoorDash introduced Dot, an anthropomorphic five-foot, 350-pound autonomous delivery robot piloted in Phoenix with plans for a wider metro rollout by year's end. Dot reaches top speeds of 20 mph and carries roughly 30 pounds, providing space for up to six pizzas. The robot uses sensors to navigate busy sidewalks, bike lanes, and parking lots. The vehicle's size is intended to deter tampering, but there are no remote-operating capabilities, so field staff must be dispatched for problems. Ground-based autonomous delivery faces challenges from chaotic streets and pedestrian interactions. DoorDash and Uber Eats also explore aerial delivery through a partnership with Flytrex.
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