Just Eat Takeaway.com Tests Wheeled-Legged Hybrid Robots for Food Delivery
- Just Eat Takeaway.com is trialing robotic doorstep food delivery in Switzerland using wheeled-legged bots from Swiss robotics firm RIVR.
- The hybrid robots navigate real-world environments with Physical AI and are currently delivering from Zekis World restaurant in Zurich.
Just Eat Takeaway.com has launched a pilot program for robotic food delivery in Zurich, partnering with Swiss startup RIVR. The pilot marks the first European use of on-demand delivery robots equipped with both wheels and legs, capable of climbing curbs and stairs. These units combine robust mobility with physical AI to navigate urban spaces, including sidewalks, obstacles, and varied weather conditions.
The robot travels up to 15 km per hour, has a 40-litre cargo capacity with spill protection, and features a secure locking mechanism for food handovers. Deliveries are tracked live from a monitoring center and include safety features such as emergency stop capabilities and lights for visibility day or night. Customers unlock the robot's cargo after being notified of its arrival.
"Our collaboration with Just Eat Takeaway.com is a glimpse into a future where automation blends naturally into our cities, helping people get what they need, when they need it. Physical AI allows our robots to understand and adapt to the real world. It’s a step toward making autonomous delivery not only efficient, but intuitive, safe, and truly human-centred," said Marko Bjelonic, Chief Executive Officer, RIVR, in a press release.
This initiative builds on Just Eat Takeaway.com's broader innovation strategy, following a prior drone delivery pilot in Ireland powered by Manna. Just Eat Takeaway.com plans to expand robotic delivery to other European cities later this year, with potential use in retail and convenience stores.
🌀 Tom’s Take:
Delivery robots are redefining how we receive food. RIVR’s wheeled-legged design feels built for Europe’s urban complexity, handling stairs, curbs, and unpredictable surfaces with ease.
Source: Just Eat Takeaway.com
