Too many pizzas to carry? Is that box of donuts just one box too much? Delivery workers can now use robots to lend a helping hand — at least in Virginia. Virginia is the first state in the country to pass a law allowing delivery robots to help deliver food on sidewalks and crosswalks. The new law was only recently signed and will not go into effect until July 1, 2017. After that, it is expected that robots will take to the streets, with their human helpers. Each municipality will determine how they want to regulate the robots in their area. They could slow them down even further or not even allow them in the first place.
Virginia’s Delivery Robots
Two Virginia lawmakers, Ron Villanueva and Bill DeSteph, paired up with Starship Technologies in proposing this new law. Starship Technologies is a company headquartered in London, but it has engineering operations in Tallinn, Estonia. It was created by Skype co-founders, Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Launched in 2014, Starship Technologies develops small self-driving robotic delivery helpmates.
Read More: The Rise of Food Delivery Apps on Your Phone
Virginia has made a few restrictions regarding these delivery robots. They cannot drive more than 10 mph and they cannot weigh more than 50 pounds. They will not be free-roaming robots, either. Instead, someone will need to remotely monitor the robots and take over if anything goes wrong.
Amazon and Grubhub sent in their letters of support for the delivery robot proposal. No one is surprised by this. Other companies are now working to bring in robots for their own delivery needs. Idaho and Florida have had similar legislature proposed. How many other states actually adopt the delivery robot idea is anyone’s guess.
Robots are currently being tested in other areas. Since January of this year, both home addresses and businesses can opt for robot delivery in Redwood City, California and Washington, D.C. There is no extra charge for the experience and, in the case of Postmates, you don’t have to use the delivery robot. The robots were estimated to make roughly ten deliveries in a day.
Food Delivery, Fast
Who knew that delivery robots would become the next big thing? Start good habits now by taking care of your device so, if delivery bots are rolled out in your neck of the woods, you can hop on your fave mobile food app. After all, no one wants to miss out on delivery bots!
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