“Last-mile delivery” is the logistician’s sticky wicket. It’s the most expensive and time-consuming part of getting goods to consumers. Yet, it’s a must-have component of customer service in today’s economy. Why go to the store or restaurant when it can come to us? Nearly a third of U.S. consumers say they have food delivered at least twice a week, and a typical Amazon driver delivers between 250 and 300 packages a day.
We generally envision take-out meals and packages arriving by car or van, but that’s not always the case. College campuses, corporate campuses, vacation resorts, conference centers, amusement parks, and large outdoor sports venues are all places where the final leg of deliveries sometimes occurs on foot, scooter, bicycle, or golf cart. And that’s only if there are workers available to provide those services. Frequently these days, there aren’t!
Autonomous Delivery Robots are coming to the rescue.
For years, we’ve been teased with videos of small drones dropping packages on porches and knee-high robotic delivery vehicles sharing the sidewalks with pedestrians. Cool? Yes. Practical? Not really. The locations just mentioned are not equipped for delivery drones zipping overhead. The concept is scary and concerning on many fronts. As for little delivery robots already in use on campuses, their capacity is limited. They roll along slowly, carrying just one delivery at a time. For any quantity of service, a fleet is certainly necessary.
Plus, not all drones and robots are autonomous. If a driver needs to pilot these devices, albeit remotely, human labor is still required.
Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX) is bringing to market a far more practical solution based upon ROAMEO, a tested and proven security robot platform created by the company’s subsidiary, Robotic Assistance Devices – Mobile (RAD-M). This 7-foot tall, 700-pound, fully autonomous vehicle represents a new model for delivery and service robots appropriate for use within self-contained or gated properties. AITX is building upon ROAMEO’S mechanical foundation and navigational electronics, while swapping out its security technology and redesigning its body for deployment as a purpose-built delivery and service vehicle.
The robot’s hefty size can accommodate many hot and cold storage compartments – lined up like little lockers – allowing for multi-stop deliveries within a single run. A low center of gravity and rough-terrain suspension enable it to traverse grassy fields and negotiate rain, snow, and slush – providing maximum flexibility to deliver food – or other goods – wherever they’re needed. While not suitable for use on commercial roadways, the robot’s sophisticated self-driving capabilities make it adaptable to ever-changing routes and navigating obstacles – including pedestrians. It’s fast, with a maximum speed of 12 mph. Plus, its friendly appearance will bring a smile to customers’ faces. With a design that blends the vibe of a 1930’s delivery truck with a classic London taxi, it would look at home hanging out with Disney’s® Lightning McQueen®. It’s a robotic vehicle the public choose to interact with.
Imagine the robot making meal deliveries curbside at college dormitories, to tailgaters in stadium parking lots, or at picnic areas within a park or corporate campus. Because so many orders can be delivered at once, food and drinks will arrive more quickly and at the right temperature, even at the busiest times of day.
In addition to food “delivery,” the robot can serve as a mobile point-of-sale, pre-stocked with beverages, snacks, or meals. For example, restaurants within pedestrian malls, parks, or transit hubs could load up a vehicle with ready-to-eat meals and send it to serve customers on the other side of the property. When supplies run low, a second robot might arrive to replace it while first returns to the restaurant to load up again. A robot could move throughout the grounds at a music festival or art fair, selling refreshments. Or, an amusement park might dispatch vehicles pre-loaded with bottled water to circulate near crowded ride lines, making it convenient for guests to purchase a drink while they wait. They could also purchase sunscreen and t-shirts. Robots will allow vendors to flexibly expand their footprint beyond their physical location.
AITX’s new robot can also work in tandem with human service workers. For example, a conference center might have meeting rooms located in separate buildings far from the kitchen. Coffee, snacks, and lunch trays can be delivered via robot to the meeting site while human workers unload and serve the meals to guests.
Now let’s address other delivery and service applications. There are countless examples of where a robust autonomous delivery vehicle can assist with a property’s operations and improve the customer experience. For example:
Housekeeping at a large, sprawling resort can only carry so many towels and rolls of toilet paper on their carts. Rather than repeatedly returning to a centralized location to restock, a robot can be dispatched with fresh supplies for crews as they move between units, significantly improving efficiency.
A golfer on the 14th hole needs a first-aid kit. The clubhouse can have a delivery robot there in just minutes, allowing the golfer to patch themselves up and continue playing as part of the foursome.
A large manufacturing facility or warehouse can deliver supplies to workers on the line before they run out. Or bring special tools to address a problem.
Truly, the applications are endless.
ROAMEO, the yet un-named delivery robot’s older sibling, is already changing the security guard paradigm. Facing an unprecedented lack of candidates to fill security guard positions, and steeply rising wages for workers that remain, robots are successfully filling the void. Companies are discovering that their security operations improve when they deploy autonomous mobile technology to handle mundane tasks that are best suited for machines – like routine observation and patrolling of grounds – while reserving human capital to manage more challenging response coordination.
The same model promises equal success for handling delivery functions. Restaurants, retailers, businesses, and property managers are struggling to find low-wage hourly workers to handle these roles. Help is on the way. AITX’s proprietary robots will soon do these jobs while reducing costs, increasing efficiencies, and navigating the last mile of delivery. It also creates opportunities for commercial enterprises to explore new operational templates that, by leveraging technology, will improve the daily experiences of employees and customers alike.
