On Tuesday, the delivery platform foodora launched a pilot scheme with autonomous robots in the Prague district of Karlín. The project has been developed in cooperation with Starship Technologies, one of the world’s leading companies in autonomous delivery solutions.
Following successful deployment in Sweden, foodora’s robotic delivery service is now coming to Central Europe for the first time. If the test phase in Prague proves successful, the service is expected to expand to further cities and regions in the Czech Republic. “We are the first in the Czech Republic to use autonomous robots for delivery services,” says Adam Kolesa, Managing Director of foodora Czech Republic. “The cooperation with Starship Technologies enables us to offer our customers a more environmentally friendly delivery alternative.”
According to Starship Technologies, the small electric vehicles already save more than 700 tonnes of CO₂ across Europe. A single delivery uses only as much energy as boiling a kettle. In the long term, this means fewer emissions – and fewer cars on the streets. “We are delighted to launch our cooperation with foodora in the Czech Republic today. Our autonomous robots have already transformed everyday shopping in many countries,” says Ahti Heinla, co-founder and CEO of Starship Technologies.
First robots start in Prague 8
In the test phase, three robots are initially in operation in Prague 8. They deliver McDonald’s orders in Karlín within a radius of around two kilometres. “At McDonald’s, we continuously look for innovative ways to improve our guests’ experience – both in the restaurant and beyond. The test phase with an autonomously operating delivery robot, in cooperation with foodora, is another important step towards modern and sustainable solutions,” says Martin Troup, Marketing Director of McDonald’s for the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine.
“This is the very first time that foodora robots are delivering hot meals and not just groceries. For us, this is a crucial step forward and another milestone in the development of our services,” emphasises Kolesa.
How do the robots work?
The vehicles move at walking pace on pavements and cross streets only at pedestrian crossings. Equipped with various sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence and machine learning, they navigate safely through traffic and avoid obstacles. Thanks to highly precise environmental detection, they can plan their routes down to the centimetre. They are almost ready for use around the clock and operate reliably in rain, snow or extreme heat. “Starship’s technology has been tried and tested for years. Our robots cross more than 125,000 zebra crossings every day and have already completed over nine million deliveries worldwide,” explains CEO Heinla.
The robots operate at what is known as Autonomy Level 4: they move independently but remain under constant supervision from an employee who can intervene if necessary. “If a robot encounters an unexpected obstacle – such as roadworks – or cannot clearly assess a situation, an employee can take over and guide the robot safely through the scenario. In this way, we combine the advantages of artificial intelligence with human oversight,” says Heinla.
Czech Republic as a European innovator
With the launch of the project, the Czech Republic joins the group of European pioneers in modern urban logistics. foodora is reinforcing its role as one of the most innovative companies in the delivery market. “With the support and experience of Starship Technologies – and in cooperation with local municipalities and cities – we aim to demonstrate that the Czech Republic can take a leading role in innovative solutions. Companies like foodora can bring modern technologies to the public and genuinely improve everyday life,” summarises Kolesa.
