The days of conventional delivery methods are now over as we usher in the robotics age. In recent years, some of the world’s most influential delivery services and robotics manufacturers have taken on the challenge of creating autonomous delivery robots, and the results are undoubtedly impressive. These robots are not only self-driving, but seriously smart, boasting the ability to safely navigate public sidewalks and detect impending obstacles. While only some communities across the nation have had the chance to witness robotic couriers in action so far, it won’t be long before delivery robots hit the streets of nearly every U.S. city.
In San Francisco, the robotics war is a fierce one, and much of the action is taking place throughout the Bay Area. From Starship Technologies to Segway Robotics, several local robotics companies are embarking on daring delivery projects, but they’re not alone. Delivery service leaders like Amazon and Postmates have also taken on the robotics challenge.
Notable Robotics Delivery Companies in San Francisco
- Nuro
- Robby Technologies
- Robomart
- Segway Robotics
- Starship Technologies
- Udelv
Whether it’s self-driving grocery stores or autonomous retail delivery, these robotics delivery companies in San Francisco are doing it all, bringing us closer to embracing a new world.
Founded: 2011
Location: Financial District
Focus: Food + Beverage
What they do: Earlier this year, the delivery service company Postmates got the green light to test its new delivery robot, Serve, on the streets of San Francisco. The electricity-powered robot contains Velodyne LIDAR sensors and a Nvidia Xavier processor, allowing it to create a virtual picture of the world in real time. Serve can carry up to 50 pounds and travel 30 miles on a single battery charge, while safely navigating sidewalks. While Postmates hasn’t officially begun its new delivery service, it shouldn’t be long before the company’s wide-eyed robots are rolling up to people’s doorsteps.
Founded: 2016
Location: Mountain View
Focus: Food + Beverage, Retail, Cleaning Services
What they do: Founded by former Google employees, Dave Ferguson and Jiajun Zhu, Nuro is dedicated to harnessing the power of robotics and AI to solve new challenges on a global scale. The company has created a fully autonomous, on-road vehicle designed to transport goods quickly, safely and affordably. Electric, autonomous and efficient, the vehicles’ flexible interior design allows each one to handle errands of various kinds, including dry cleaning and food delivery.
Founded: 1994
Location: Financial District
Focus: Consumer Goods
What they do: The delivery service giant Amazon has jumped on the robotics delivery trend, recently unveiling its fleet of Amazon Scouts. The six-wheeled, battery-powered robotic vehicles are intended to deliver packages to consumers’ doorsteps. For now, each Amazon Scout will be accompanied by a human Amazon employee while the robots autonomously deliver packages. The robots are designed to hold small or medium-sized packages and house powerful sensors for optimal pedestrian safety.
Founded: 2016
Location: Palo Alto
Focus: Food + Beverage, Retail
What they do: Robby Technologies creates fully autonomous robots designed to usher in innovative consumer touch points and operational efficiency for businesses. Using a prominent computer vision system and self-driving technologies, the company’s robots autonomously deliver food and packages to consumers’ doorsteps. The robots are intended to reduce both manufacturing and operational costs significantly, as well as offer versatile customization options in terms of payload and container design. With a six-wheel design and all-wheel drive capability, each robot is designed to traverse bumpy sidewalks and hilly terrain, while its shell and internal electronics offer weather resistance.
Founded: 2017
Location: Milpitas
Focus: Food + Beverage
What they do: Robomart builds self-driving grocery stores, offering a faster, easier and cheaper way to buy groceries. Customers tap a button when they want to request a nearby robomart, and once it arrives, they unlock the doors and shop for products. The company uses patent pending “grab and go” checkout-free technology to track what customers have taken, so they can charge them and send a receipt. Each robomart carries a selection of goods within a specific category and restocks at a local replenishment center when the products run low. Retailers will soon have the option to partner with Robomart to offer consumers an immediate shopping experience.
Founded: 2001
Location: Hayes Valley
Focus: Food + Beverage, Retail
What they do: Segway Robotics has created delivery robots, which are crafted to be safe and durable. The DeliveryBot S2 is designed to be flexible and light, interactive and agile across uneven surfaces. Its 360-degree sensor system makes it capable of operating in more extreme conditions. Segway’s DeliveryBot X1 is capable of fast and timely door-to-door deliveries, boasting large storage and flexible obstacle avoidance. The robot is designed for various uses, including grocery and takeaway delivery. The robot also houses multi-sensor fusion localization technology, which grants access to accurate localization in various scenarios using multi-data fusion technology.
Founded: 2014
Location: Mountain View
Focus: Food + Beverage, Retail
What they do: Established by Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, Starship Technologies builds self-driving local delivery robots, which are designed to be safe, eco-friendly and cost-effective. The company has combined mobile technology, autonomous robots and partnerships with stores and restaurants to reinvent local delivery services. Customers can purchase goods through a mobile app and track the delivery robot’s journey as their purchase makes its way to their door. Throughout the delivery process, the robot’s cargo bay is locked and can only be opened by the customer through their smartphone app. Starship’s robots can carry items within a four-mile radius and weigh no more than 100 pounds.
Founded: 2012
Location: San Rafael
Focus: Industrial, Urban, Rural
What they do: TeleRetail creates autonomous robots that are designed to minimize the ecological footprint of transportation. The company’s Aito software operates vehicles of various sizes, reducing the cost of transport by up to 90 percent while allowing for cost-efficient, on-demand logistics services. Aito is used to operate TeleRetail’s street transporter, Pulse 1, minimizing energy and space requirements of local logistics while avoiding harmful emissions. The company’s robots are designed for use in industrial, urban and rural environments.
Founded: 2017
Location: Burlingame
Focus: Food + Beverage, Retail, Automotive
What they do: Udelv creates custom-made, public road, self-driving delivery vehicles with the intention of creating an autonomous delivery solution that’s easy to launch and quick to scale. The company’s AI stack allows its vehicles to travel autonomously, while an intuitive robotics system enables loading and unloading, order division and operating simplicity, all of which can be controlled through mobile apps. Udelv is driven by the commitment to dramatically decrease the cost of deliveries, add delivery window flexibility and significantly reduce a city’s carbon footprint. Their vehicles can travel at 60 mph and have a payload capacity of more than 800 pounds.
