Starship
Technologies has developed a fleet of six-wheeled 'ground drones' that
travel at four miles per hour and are capable of carrying 20 to 25
pounds of cargo.
Deemed
the first autonomous delivery robot, the technology is currently being
tested in London and is now set to invade Austin, Texas in the United
States.
Starship
Technologies has developed six-wheeled bots that travel at four miles
per hour and capable of carrying 20 to 25 pounds of cargo. Deemed the
first autonomous delivery robot, the technology is currently being
tested in London and is now set to invade Austin, Texas.
'We
came to Austin because it's common sense, it's obvious. Austin is a
very forward-thinking, tech-embracing, innovative city,' Henry
Harris-Burland, marketing and communications manager at Starship
Technologies, told FOX 7 News.
The
UK startup has put their focus on three different sectors in the market
when it comes to Austin: package deliver, grocery delivery and
restaurant deliver – so the next time you order from your favorite pizza
joint, this machine might have it to you in 30 minutes or less.
Burland
explains that the technology can easily integrate with any retailer or
restaurant, as it can be added directly to the delivery process online.
'You'd order something as usual online. You'd be offered Starship delivery in the checkout area,' said Harris-Burland.
'And then you'd be notified through your mobile phone when your parcel was ready for delivery. The power is then in your hands.'
Customers
also have the power to choose a convenient delivery time and the robot
will head to their location with the package securely locked inside,
which can be retrieved using the app to unlock the lid.
The
drones are fitted with nine cameras, which are placed around the front
and back, in addition to sensors that help this machine avoid obstacles
in its path.
Startship also included two-way audio, so team members can communicate with people in the environment.
Following
the process of mapping a neighborhood, like Mueller, which is located
in the northeast-central portion of Austin, the team can setup a hub and
unleash the fleet for delivers – which they are working towards making
99 percent autonomous.
If
you’re worried about someone stealing your goods or vandalizing the
robot, the firm has said its nine cameras are always recording and can
‘put that thief or vandal up on YouTube pretty quickly’, Harris-Burland
said.
Starship
Technologies was invented by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus
Friis who hope their machine will be appealing for small businesses who
could send up to 20lbs (9kg) of goods to local customers.
It
is as yet unnamed, but Keith Cornell, Senior Adviser at Starship told
MailOnline: 'We may hold a contest and they may have multiple names.
They might have personalities of their own.'
Unlike
robots designed to resemble humans, Starship's bot is purely functional
with a large compartment to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two
grocery bags.
The UK startup has put their focus on
three different sectors in the market when it comes to Austin: package
deliver, grocery delivery and restaurant deliver. Startship also
included two-way audio, so team members can communicate with people in
the environment
The
idea is that consumers could call for a delivery, which is carried to
their door by a robot in between five and 30 minutes, for as little as
£1 (60cents).
Each
six-wheeled 'ground drone' is almost completely self-driving, but to
begin with will be half controlled by a human operator.
It is constantly connected to the internet, using 3G technology to find its way to the customer's address.
The mopeds of delivery drivers
everywhere are set to be ousted by 'ground drones' that can navigate
city streets by themselves. The invasion has begun with Starship
Technologies' delivery bots beginning their trials in London (pictured) -
and they are scheduled to begin trials and in Now York in spring
'Walking'
on the pavement at about 4mph (3km/h), robots can complete local
deliveries within five to 30 minutes from a local hub or retail outlet.
The scheme also costs between 10 to 15 times less than the cost of current last-mile delivery alternatives, Starship claims.
MailOnline tested the unnamed robots at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Mr Cornell said: 'Trials will be in 14 cities if we get permission from councils.'
AMAZON WILL BEGIN TESTING DELIVERY DRONES IN BRITAIN
Amazon
plans to test its delivery drones in Britain, meaning customers in the
UK could soon receive their packages from the internet giant by air,
rather than post.
The
move is the result of a deal with the British government and could see
customers in the UK trial the new service before those in the US.
The
partnership aims to understand how drones can be used safely and
reliably, and identify the best regulations to put in place.
Amazon got British approval for three
new types of tests: Flying drones (one shown) that are no longer within
sight of their operators in rural and suburban areas. But Starship
Technologies could be the firm to take over ground deliveries
The
plan is for Amazon's PrimeAir service to eventually deliver small
packages weighing up to 5lbs (2.27kg) in 30 minutes or less.
The
world's biggest online retailer, which has laid out plans to start
using drones for deliveries by 2017, said a cross-government team
supported by the UK Civil Aviation Authority has provided it with the
permissions necessary to explore the process.
Flights will begin 'imminently,' according to The Mirror.
Amazon
got British approval for three new types of tests: Flying drones that
are no longer within sight of their operators in rural and suburban
areas, having one person operate several highly automated drones and
testing devices to make the drones able to identify and avoid obstacles.
During
the test the drones will be only allowed to fly an altitude of 400ft
(122m) and kept away from operating near airport flightpaths.
Greenwich council has already given us permission and this will be the launch location with robots arriving' next month'.
He explained that by the end of the year it's hoped the robots will be 98 per cent autonomous.
'It's the last two per cent that's expensive,' he added.
So instead, the company plans on having a human operator in charge of 100 bots in case they run into trouble, for example.
He confirmed the firm has retail partners lined up - 'names you'll recognise' - but these are currently under wraps.
'Demand is not an issue,' he continued.
Unlike robots designed to resemble
humans, the Starship's bot is purely functional with a large compartment
to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two grocery bags. dailymail
Walking on the pavement at about 4mph
(3km/h), robots can complete local deliveries within five to 30 minutes
from a local hub or retail outlet. The bot's 'cargo trunk' (pictured) is
sealed throughout the trip and only the customer can open it using a
specific app upon its arrival. dailymail
'The
robot's designed to make life easier, so people might still go to the
shops to buy flowers, for example, but could use them to carry heavy
items such as potatoes home.
Integrated
navigation and 'obstacle avoidance software' enable the robots to steer
clear of pedestrians or to jump over kerbs and cobbles, for example.
However, human operators are ready to step in if an emergency should arise.
This includes if someone tries to steal the bot.
If
a thief attempts to tamper with the robot, or snatch it, the operator
can take over - talking directly to the wrongdoer and sending police to
the drone's location.
The drone's nine cameras can also capture the criminal's face.
In
any case, the bot's 'cargo trunk' is sealed throughout the trip- only
the customer can open it using a specific app upon the drone's arrival.
The app will also allow shoppers to track the robot's location in real time.
One
of Starship's main selling points is the battery-powered bot's zero
direct CO2 emission, as opposed to the pollution brought about but too
many, short shopping car trips.
After more than
3,000 hours of testing in London, Starship Technologies' delivery bots
(pictured) are scheduled to start deliveries in Greenwich next
month. Each six-wheeled 'ground drone' is almost completely
self-driving. It is constantly connected to the web, using 3G technology
to find its way to addresses
Each six-wheeled 'ground drone'
(pictured) is almost completely self-driving. It is constantly connected
to the internet, using 3G technology. If a thief attempts to tamper
with the robot, or snatch it, a human operator can take over- talking
directly to the wrongdoer and sending police to the drone's location. dailymail
One of Starship's main selling points
is the battery-powered bot's (pictured) zero direct CO2 emission, as
opposed to the pollution brought about but too many, short shopping car
trips
'Our
vision revolves around three zeroes – zero cost, zero waiting time and
zero environmental impact,' said Heinla, boss at Starship Technologies.
'We want to do to local deliveries what Skype did to telecommunications.'
For businesses, Starship's technology eliminates the largest inefficiency in the delivery chain, the last mile.
Instead
of expensive and time-consuming door-to-door delivery, retailers can
ship the goods in bulk to a local hub, then the robot fleet completes
the delivery to the shopper's door for a fraction of the cost.
'With
ecommerce continuing to grow consumers expect to have more convenient
options for delivery – but at a cost that suits them,' Heinla said.
'The last few miles often amounts to the majority of the total delivery cost.'
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus