Have you seen, used, or would use these robots for food delivery?

[QuarterMillionMan]

Robots delivering food in Miami? Better get used to it

Los Angeles is infested with these robots. Not sure the cost but if it is reasonable I'd use it.

[disneysteve]

We don’t order food delivery but I see nothing wrong with them. As long as they aren’t causing traffic issues it seems like a good idea. Get a bunch of cars off the road. Cut down on drivers getting robbed.

[kork13]

I think in big urban centers (NYC, LA, etc.) they could be great. But the more spread out the city gets (think like a Colorado Springs or Denver type of sprawl), they can quickly become impractical. It seems like any delivery past ~3 miles or so wouldn't work well (assuming it moves around 6mph, like a human jogging pace).

Similar/different ... When I first saw this thread, I thought it was referring to the robot waiters that are starting to become popular at restaurants here in Japan. They're pretty cool, work great, and my kids love them. Another easy way to automate a mostly meaningless, menial job ... the future is now. (though I'll admit a downside is you don't get the benefit of a waiter's recommendations, which I often make use of in trying out a new restaurant).

[ua_guy]

Oregon State University was working with these kinds of things about 5 years ago. They'd move things between buildings on campus, things for labs and other items. They knew how to cross streets and watch for traffic, and they knew how to interface with people moving on sidewalks with them. Pretty cool, actually.

The application of food delivery is practical, I suppose, unless someone intercepts one and removes the food. I could totally see that happening in a downtown core where there are hungry and homeless people.

[kork13]

The application of food delivery is practical, I suppose, unless someone intercepts one and removes the food. I could totally see that happening in a downtown core where there are hungry and homeless people.

I assume that they are locked somehow until they reach the delivery location, plus cameras that can record images of any bandits ... And just being me, I'd also outfit them with booby traps. Ever watched Mark Rober's anti-porch-pirate videos? Potent fart spray, loud noises, glitter bombs, the works.

[Fishindude77]

They have these in a university town near us for delivering food, books, etc.
Have heard they have a lot of problems with them, but no first hand experience. Big engineering school, so they're probably going to keep using them regardless.

[QuarterMillionMan]

These robots still need a human to operate it remotely and the restaurant robots also need a human to dole out the food. The cost savings must not be that great.

[james.hendrickson]

These robots still need a human to operate it remotely and the restaurant robots also need a human to dole out the food. The cost savings must not be that great.

I bet restaurants are going to ask for tips for the robots.

[QuarterMillionMan]

For restaurants it is cheaper to just install a conveyor belt and make it stop at the table much like the sushi places

[mumof2]

We don’t order food delivery but I see nothing wrong with them. As long as they aren’t causing traffic issues it seems like a good idea. Get a bunch of cars off the road. Cut down on drivers getting robbed.

I have only seen them online especially china....but I think to many people will destroy them in the US as they seem to destroy everything they can (no offense) have seen it to often...hope it doesnt happen but I'm wondering what will happen when people no longer have job and it dont make any money..how will they survive if they have robots doing everything and they dont have to pay them

[comicguy]

I saw some of these getting "trained" in Austin 2 years ago, They were being followed by a person on a bike that would stop every so often and interact with it (I am guessing it was for some programming like crossing streets, and other navigation issues)