Uber Eats to Team Up with Cartken for Robotic Delivery in Japan
Uber Eats has launched its delivery services in Japan after making a collaboration with two big tech giants, Mitsubishi Motors and autonomous robot company Cartken. Ultimately, it will revolutionize the food delivery services in Japan. The primary purpose of this merger is to expand the delivery service capabilities of Uber. The self-driving robots can deliver the meals directly to the customers without requiring manual inputs. Hence, it will reduce the workload of the employees, enabling them to focus on other productive tasks. Also, this unique approach will improve the customer base of all the companies involved in this collaboration.Â
The Deal
The deal involves three different tech giants that are widely popular for their incredible services and functional capabilities. Uber Eats, the most efficient and popular food delivery platform, has signed a deal with Cartken to leverage the potential of its robots. These autonomous gadgets are capable of moving on sidewalks to reach the desired destination. Hence, they ensure smooth food deliveries inside Tokyo. The Model C robots, produced by Cartken, will be used for delivery purposes.
The third partner in this collaboration is Mitsubishi Electric, which has earned a significant name in the world of technology and engineering. It will take charge of overseeing the operations in Tokyo. Hence, Mitsubishi will ensure the seamless integration of robotic deliveries into the streets of Tokyo.
Working of the New Delivery System
The launching of the new delivery system is expected by the end of March 2024. However, only selected areas of the city will get these service advantages in the beginning. Customers have to place their food orders with the help of their Uber Eats apps in the same manner as they did before. The only difference is that they will get their orders from robots instead of humans. Cartken has deployed its Model C robots for delivery purposes, as they can navigate through the streets of Japan by avoiding obstacles. Also, the AI algorithms are integrated, enabling them to follow traffic laws.Â
Restaurants will prepare the meals and place them inside the storage compartment of the robots. With the help of advanced sensors and map technology, they can select the most efficient route to deliver the order to the destination. When the robot reaches the location, the system will send a notification to the mobile app of the user. Reach the location and receive the parcel to enjoy your favorite food.
Benefits and Future Prospects
This launch of a robotic delivery system will deliver immense benefits to the users as well as to the partner companies. The robots can work 24/7. Thus, users will be able to receive the meal at any time. Also, it will play a part in reducing the traffic congestion. Companies will experience a significant cut in their operational costs, expanding the profit-expenditure gap. Besides, the future prospects involve the launching of similar systems across the globe.