Delivery robots

66Mustang · December 2022

Has anyone seen these driving about?

Apparently they deliver groceries and small items to customers.

I saw one today, just driving along the pavement, and thought it was cool.

Apparently they sometimes get stuck, and if you help them, they thank you.

Also, if you stop your car to let them cross a road they will say "thank you" as well.

One thing I do wonder, is I have only seen them in "nice" areas. Would they work in a rough area? What's to stop people looting them?

Hannah_Alumni · December 2022

I saw a few news articles before covid about trials of these in America.

They had them in different states, different areas in those states and during trials, some were really hard to break into and others were "stolen" as they had trackers in them, so they wanted to see how quickly those "perpetrators" were found.

I think it's a really great idea for businesses that deliver in smaller communities. I think on a larger scale, the number of them on the street may become problematic.

66Mustang · December 2022

I understand about there being too many of them but, if you look at it another way, every one of these represents a delivery car or van not on the roads, which has to be a good thing, considering they are less polluting, and obviously take up less space, than a vehicle. I accept that is not a fair comparison though because it is swapping road traffic for pavement traffic!

Maybe in years to come, when the tech improves and they are safe and fast enough to keep up with traffic , they could be allowed on the roads?

Hannah_Alumni · December 2022

That is true, less pollution on the roads. I just see many people not looking and tripping over them, and kids running after them! 😂

Maybe, to be fair, I still don't know why we don't bring back electric trams. They'd be environmentally friendly, less cars on the roads and any excuse to sing The Trolley Song.

SueHeath · December 2022

I've seen them on the TV @66Mustang I also seen that some where was trying deliveries by "Dromes" very futuristic they certainly wouldn't survive round our housing estate ha ha x

durhamjaide2001 · December 2022

I haven't seen the robots yet.

SueHeath · December 2022

I think there just being trialed at the moment @durhamjaide2001 - hope your enjoying Scotland x

durhamjaide2001 · December 2022

SueHeath said:

I think there just being trialed at the moment @durhamjaide2001 - hope your enjoying Scotland x

Thanks

Sandy_123 · December 2022

I don't know about these, I imagine some will steal it and the contents, then it will be costly to the company. I also think if someone has sight problems, it could be a hazard on the paths. Or does it move out the way?
I know amazon were trialing drones, don't know how effective that was. I get low flying aircraft that goes to the airport near by, so another hazard.

Geoark · January 2023

Greenwich has been having deliveries by robots since 2017, and were being trialled in Southwark about the same time. You receive a code to open the box area, when the robot arrives at your home.

Here is an article about the Southwark trials, the first picture is close to where I live:
https://southwarknews.co.uk/news/misc/self-driving-just-eat-delivery-robot-spotted-bermondsey-street/

I used to love seeing this robot trundle along Tower Bridge Road, and while it has undergone a lot of gentrification it is still not what many would describe a nice area.

They are good at avoiding obstacles, but like any technology things can go wrong. From what I saw they are a lot less hazardous than dogs off leads, cyclists, skaters on footpaths etc. And definitely more friendly than some of the locals.

rebel11 · January 2023

For me, I get the concept, but they have limited use at this moment in time.

There are 'huge' hurdles, safety (forget about all the other issues, e.g. weather etc) being the 'No1', on land and in the air.

If it accidentally injuries somebody, then the repercussions would be 'huge'.

Fat_Jon · January 2023

I have not seen these, and to be honest I don't really want to. If robots take over delivery, how many thousands more employed people are going to find themselves out of a job?

Cartini · January 2023

Fat_Jon said:

I have not seen these, and to be honest I don't really want to. If robots take over delivery, how many thousands more employed people are going to find themselves out of a job?

You can`t hide from "advancement", whether you like it or not. I, personally, don`t have any problems with them, but there are too many dinosaurs out there to make it a successful venture. When the dinosaurs die.......

Steve_in_The_City · January 2023

Personally I like delivery people! They are always smiling, happy and put my stuff where I want it. On a recent delivery the guy could see I was having problems closing my front door, He doubled back and closed the door for me. I can't imagine a drone doing this? I recently had a very large sideboard delivered. The delivery people unpacked it, saw it was damaged and immediately phoned their head office. Would a drone manage or do this? Technology is great (I once had no internet for a week and simply couldn't cope) but there are limits.

Wibbles · January 2023

What happens if they get hit by a vehicle or get stuck in a hole in the road ?

I can imagine a situation where a drone "dies" through being stuck in a unused road - and it's last words are "Help Me......."

Hilbil · January 2023

Our Son and family live in Bedford. Always trundling up and down the roads. We out for a walk the other day and it asked us to press the pedestrian crossing lights!!!!

durhamjaide2001 · January 2023

Hilbil said:

Our Son and family live in Bedford. Always trundling up and down the roads. We out for a walk the other day and it asked us to press the pedestrian crossing lights!!!!

Lol that's funny

Delivery robots

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