Domino’s unveils prototype delivery robot
The media has been full of reports about autonomous delivery robots this week, and now Domino’s has released a YouTube video of its own prototype. The Domino’s Robotic Unit (DRU) is a four-wheeled battery-powered robot developed in Australia. It can hold up to ten pizzas in a heated internal compartment, move at speeds of 20 km/h, and use sensors to avoid collisions as it navigates its way through the streets. At least, that’s the theory.
Domino’s Australia posted a video of DRU through its YouTube account today (18 March).
The video is slick, amusing and quite possibly “tongue in cheek”. Certainly, Domino’s made it clear that a launch of DRU would not be imminent: “While he won’t be taking to the streets tomorrow, he is enjoying his early progress as a prototype and giving customers a glimpse into the future of what is possible.”
Domino’s described DRU as “the world’s first autonomous delivery vehicle” – a title which many would dispute. As previously reported, Starship Technology is planning to start testing its autonomous delivery robot in the London borough of Greenwich this month. (UPDATE on 18 March – the firm has since narrowed its definition to the “the world’s first autonomous pizza delivery vehicle”.)
Domino’s developed DRU with Australian startup Marathon Targets.
