Robotic Grocery Delivery to Launch in Prague Next Year

On-line grocer Rohlik.cz could be delivering small grocery orders by robot as early as next year

Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas

Written by Elizabeth Zahradnicek-Haas Published on 14.09.2016 12:26:42 (updated on 14.09.2016) Reading time: 1 minute

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel or at the very least an episode of the Jetsons: as early as next year self-driving robots could be roaming the streets of Prague, delivering groceries, says Aktualne.cz.

The autonomous robots are made by Starship Technologies, an Estonian company that is one of the founders of Skype, and are intended to revolutionize delivery service worlwide.

The bots are being touted as an environmently-friendly and cost-effective solution for dispatching smaller purchases that require fast delivery.

The company says that their robots could also help reduced the transportation costs associated with delivery.

Three bags of groceries fit inside the little six-wheeled wonder which would roll down the sidewalk alongside pedestrians and can be tracked by mobile app. Delivery time is predicted at anywhere from 5-30 minutes.

The locked bot is equipped with cameras and can only be opened by customers.

A pilot program has already taken place in London; the Czech Republic will be added next year when on-line grocer Rohlik.cz will deploy the robot on the streets of Prague.

See photos from a recent demo in Old Town Square here.

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