Uber Eats is introducing a delivery service in Japan using Cartken’s sidewalk robots

Uber, Mitsubishi Electric, and Cartken are collaborating to create a service in Japan that will use self-driving sidewalk robots for delivering meals to clients.

The firms said that the service provided via the Uber Eats app would debut in a certain area of Tokyo by the end of March. An Uber representative said that the working hours would be revealed nearer to the debut date.

Uber and Cartken, a business established in 2019 by ex-Google engineers who previously worked on Bookbot, now collaborate on a delivery service in Fairfax, Virginia, and Miami. This recent arrangement is their first venture outside the borders of the United States. Mitsubishi Electric, a firm, will oversee operations in Tokyo.

Cartken’s self-operating sidewalk robot, Model C, will be used for the delivery service. The robot is equipped with a 27-liter insulated cargo container and moves at a speed of around 3.3 miles per hour. The robot is equipped with sensors such as cameras and sophisticated algorithms to detect, comprehend, and navigate its surroundings. Cartken also has a technology that enables personnel to remotely supervise and direct the robot when necessary. According to an Uber official, Mitsubishi Electric staff members trained in Cartken’s remote guiding system will use Cartken’s teleoperations interface.

Shoji Tanaka, the senior general manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s advanced application development center, said that robot delivery is an efficient solution to the impending logistical issue.

Tanaka expressed confidence that the newly announced effort will stimulate the expansion of robot delivery services in Japan. “In the future, we will utilize our expertise in buildings and factory infrastructure to enable autonomous robots to deliver goods within different facilities.”