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Just Eat's autonomous robot deliveries just surpassed 1,000 orders

One of the biggest real world trials of autonomous robot deliveries globally is happening right now in London and has now hit a major delivery milestone.

The trial takeaway deliveries by Just Eat in partnership with robotics firm Starship Technologies has seen a fleet of ten self-driving robots unleashed onto busy London streets this year.

Customers in select areas have been given the option to have their delivery carried out by one of Starship’s robots, and the two companies are now celebrating after the 1,000th delivery was carried out by one of the bots.

An order of Malaysian Chicken Satay and Singapore Curry Rice from Jasmine Garden in Southwark took the mantle, but perhaps more importantly the figure highlights how successfully the robots themselves have slotted into urban life and could act as a prelude to a wider roll out.

The tech itself has been touted as a viable and far more accessible alternative to drone deliveries, quietly racking up thousands of miles across various pilot programmes with industry partners including delivery firm Hermes.

Graham Corfield, UK Managing Director at Just Eat hailed the ‘fantastic response’ to its robot delivery trials with their addition onto London’s busy streets passing without incident.

He said: “We continuously look for ways to use technology to make our customers and restaurant partners’ lives easier, and delivery robots are one of the many industry-first initiatives we’ve introduced to enhance the Just Eat experience.

“We can’t wait for more food lovers to enjoy their favourite takeaway, fresh from a robot.”

London and Tallinn-based Starship Technologies has rolled out a number of pilot programmes for its autonomous robots across the world, with trials currently underway in the US, Germany, Switzerland and Estonia.

The firm has raised $17.2m back in January in a round led by car company Daimler AG.