By Alimat Aliyeva
Uber announced on Thursday that it will partner with Starship
Technologies to introduce autonomous robot deliveries in the UK
starting in December, with plans to expand to additional European
markets next year and the United States in 2027,
Azernews reports, citing foreign media.
Initially, Uber Eats customers in the Leeds and Sheffield areas
will be able to receive deliveries from Starship’s robots, the
company said.
This partnership is the latest in a series of collaborations
Uber has established with autonomous vehicle and robotics companies
as it increasingly focuses on automating its services to drive
growth and efficiency. In the United States, Uber already works
with Avride and Serve Robotics to provide robotic food
deliveries.
Starship, based in San Francisco, will deploy robots operating
at Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can navigate and complete
deliveries within a designated area without human intervention. The
robots are equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and AI systems
to safely avoid obstacles, interact with pedestrians, and ensure
timely deliveries.
Experts suggest that this move could significantly reduce
delivery costs, speed up service in congested urban areas, and
provide a glimpse of the future of “last-mile” logistics.
Interestingly, some of Starship’s robots are designed to carry
multiple orders simultaneously, and users can track the robots in
real time via the Uber Eats app, making the experience interactive
and futuristic.
With the rise of autonomous technology, partnerships like Uber
and Starship’s signal a shift in the delivery industry, where smart
robotics and AI could become as commonplace as traditional couriers
within a few years.