Starship Technologies: Robots Delivering Food During The Pandemic
We take a look at how Starship Technologies’ robots are lending a helping hand to its communities during the coronavirus pandemic.
Business Overview:
Starship believes that its robots will revolutionise food and package deliveries, offering people convenient new services that improve everyday life. Their proven ability to harness technology combined with our experience providing services to millions of people make this a reality.
Launched in 2014 by Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies today operates in several cities across the world. Its business headquarters are in San Francisco with our main engineering office in Estonia.
Starship robots are advanced devices that can carry items within a 4-mile (6km) radius. The delivery platform enables a new era of instant delivery that works around your schedule at much lower costs.
Parcels, groceries and food are directly delivered from stores, at the time that the customer requests via a mobile app. Once ordered the robots’ entire journey and location can be monitored on a smartphone.
Starship’s robots move at pedestrian speed and weigh no more than 100 pounds. They’re inherently safe and can navigate around objects and people.
For security, the cargo bay is mechanically locked throughout the journey and can be opened only by the recipient with their smartphone app. The location of the robots is tracked, so you know exactly the location of your order and receive a notification at the time of arrival.
As an electronically powered robot, the system is incredibly clean and incredibly green. It’s both good for the planet and for your business.
How they are helping:
The company started an operation in Milton Keynes lately, the operation as a way of delivering food to those who need it while maintaining social distancing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Residents of Milton Keynes can download an app to place small orders from supermarkets, who then pack the robots with bundles of food and drive it to them. It is the first commercial deployment of its kind.
Milton Keynes’ mayor Sam Crooks said this action appeals to the relatively young demographic of his ward and prevents people from having to go outside during the lockdown.
He said: “People are taking the guidance about not going out seriously and these kinds of initiatives are ideal to allow people to obtain necessities without having to leave the house.
“The company’s first partnerships were with the Co-op and Tesco which can make it particularly handy for some people.”
The head of Starship Technologies UK operation Andy Curtis said they have seen a huge surge in demand since they started operating in Milton Keynes two years ago.
He said: “We’re excited that both residents and workers can enjoy this low-cost and incredibly convenient service here in Milton Keynes, and we hope that it will make the town an even more attractive place to live.”
Innovations such that these are not uncommon within the current global climate and many companies across the world are adapting their services to meet the demand for various services during the lockdown.
Many companies must adapt to the situation or they face going under during the lockdown, with flexibility being key to the changing markets and events.
“We’re doing everything we can to keep our customers and employees safe. Our sanitation techniques are being constantly reviewed by experts and we are constantly following their guidance and operating procedures to ensure safety and convenience for everyone.”
SOURCE: Industry Europe
