Self-Driving Delivery Robot Gets Upgrade; Uber Eats Deploying 2,000 in 2025

Sidewalk delivery company Serve Robotics has unveiled its new, third-generation autonomous bot.

The new bot is claimed to offer “significantly enhanced” capabilities, but is said to be much cheaper to manufacture.

And it is likely to become a familiar sight in at least two United States cities, with no fewer than 2,000 units likely to be deployed on the Uber Eats platform alone in 2025.

Key elements of the improved functionality are the ability to carry more goods, enabling a greater number of deliveries at a lower cost.

According to Serve, the new bot can travel twice as fast as its predecessor, which had a top speed of 6 mph and go twice as far on a single charge, allowing it to spend around six hours more in service in the field each day.

Its automated functionality is also claimed to be much better, thanks to a swathe of improvements across the board. 

Nvidia’s Jetson Orin module, Ouster’s new REV7 digital lidar, upgrades to the robots’ sensor suite and a five-fold increase in on-board computing power combine to deliver major upgrades to the bot’s autonomous mobility, with Serve’s most powerful AI architecture yet making navigation decisions more quickly than before.

Consumers will be pleased to note that carrying capacity is increased by 15% over previous bots, allowing four large 16-inch pizzas to be delivered, while a new drivetrain with tweaked suspension allows smoother operation, reducing the chance of food being spilled or moved around in transit. 

Related:Uber Eats, Serve Robotics Expanding Sidewalk Deliveries

Safety is also addressed, with improved water resistance improving the bot’s ability in bad weather, and sharper emergency braking bringing it to a halt 40% more quickly.

Dr Ali Kashani, CEO and founder of Serve, hailed the arrival of the new bot as a big step forward. 

“Producing a cutting-edge robot that can drive faster and further while running five times more AI and slashing costs by half is a true engineering feat,.” he said. “ I am proud of what our team has accomplished with our third-generation robot, which represents the culmination of years of relentless effort. 

“Our new robot puts Serve significantly down the cost curve and ahead of the competition as we roll out one of the largest autonomous fleets in the country in the coming months.”

Canada’s Magna has already started manufacturing the new bots, with roll-outs in Los Angeles – where Serve has established itself delivering for Shake Shack and 7-Eleven among others – plus “one new metro market” still to be announced in the coming months.