Uber Eats is setting the stage for an innovative delivery service in Tokyo, Japan, by harnessing the capabilities of autonomous sidewalk robots. This venture is a collaborative effort with Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken, a robotics startup established by ex-Google engineers. Scheduled to roll out by the end of March in a designated area of Tokyo, this service aims to redefine food delivery through the Uber Eats platform.
This initiative marks the first international expansion of Uber and Cartken’s partnership, previously having launched similar delivery services in Fairfax, Virginia, and Miami. Mitsubishi Electric joins this venture, bringing its operational oversight to the Tokyo project.
The service will employ Cartken’s Model C autonomous robot, designed for sidewalk navigation. The robot features a 27-liter insulated cargo bin, ideal for transporting food orders at a speed of approximately 3.3 miles per hour. Equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and software, Model C can intelligently perceive and navigate its environment. Additionally, Mitsubishi Electric employees, trained in Cartken’s teleoperations interface, will remotely monitor and guide the robot, ensuring smooth delivery operations.
Shoji Tanaka, Senior General Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, highlighted the importance of robot delivery as a solution to the looming logistics crisis. He expressed optimism that this initiative would pave the way for the widespread adoption of robot delivery services in Japan, leveraging Mitsubishi Electric’s expertise in building and factory infrastructure to facilitate autonomous deliveries within various facilities.
This collaboration between Uber Eats, Mitsubishi Electric, and Cartken represents a significant leap forward in the integration of autonomous technology with everyday services. By addressing the logistical challenges of food delivery with advanced robotics, this partnership not only enhances customer convenience but also underscores the potential for technology to solve real-world problems. As urban populations grow and the demand for delivery services increases, the use of autonomous robots could become a game-changer, setting a precedent for similar innovations worldwide.
