Wing Aviation, Google’s on-demand drone delivery unit, is joining forces with Serve Robotics to create a more efficient and eco-friendly last-mile food delivery solution that leverages both drones and sidewalk robots.
In the coming months, select food deliveries in Dallas will be picked up by Serve’s sidewalk delivery robots directly from restaurants. These robots will then transport the food to a nearby Wing drone AutoLoader, where a Wing drone will take over for the final leg of the delivery, flying it to customers as far as six miles away.
Why do this? While drone delivery excels in covering long distances, it often requires a large pick-up area, which can be challenging to access in crowded urban settings. On the other hand, Serve’s sidewalk robots are designed for dense urban environments and are powered by advanced AI technology. This enables them to navigate city streets efficiently while maintaining low emissions.
By partnering with Wing, Serve robots can significantly extend their delivery range, making it possible to serve more customers across larger areas. Dr. Ali Kashani, CEO and cofounder of Serve Robotics, says, “We’re excited to partner with Wing to offer a multi-modal delivery experience that expands our market from roughly half of all food deliveries that are within 2 miles of a restaurant, to offering 30-minute autonomous delivery across an entire city.”
Wing, which has been delivering food and other goods for over five years, has already completed more than 400,000 deliveries across three continents. The Alphabet-owned company’s expertise in drone logistics complements Serve’s technology, promising faster and more reliable delivery services.
Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing, expresses enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Both Wing and Serve offer innovative solutions that are changing the way goods are delivered. Through this pilot partnership, Wing hopes to reach more merchants in highly-congested areas while supporting Serve as it works to expand its delivery radius.”
In a nutshell, the new robot-to-drone delivery system offers several advantages for both businesses and customers:
- Speed: Wing drones can bypass road congestion by flying directly to their destinations, while Serve robots efficiently navigate sidewalks, ensuring quick delivery.
- Cost efficiency: The use of drones and robots can lower delivery costs for both operators and consumers, eliminating the need for tipping.
- Environmental benefits: Both Serve and Wing are fully electric, contributing to reduced vehicle emissions and lessening traffic congestion in cities.
- Safety: By keeping delivery vehicles off busy roads, the partnership aims to reduce traffic accidents associated with traditional delivery methods.
- Convenience: Merchants can easily integrate this delivery solution without needing to modify their facilities or invest in new equipment.
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