Delivery by drones: not just through the air

While companies like Amazon and Google rely on aerial drones to carry out their future deliveries, Skype founders prefer to take a more pedestrian approach. They announced on November 2 the launch of a new company, Starship Technologies which aims to improve local delivery of goods and groceries, while making it practically free.
To do this, the company will introduce robot delivery fleets that are, according to Starship Technologies, both small, safe, practical, free from CO2 emissions, and best of all, earthbound.
“Our vision revolves around three zeroes—zero cost, zero waiting time and zero environmental impact. We want to do to local deliveries what Skype did to telecommunications.” Explains Ahti Heinla, a Skype co-founder and CEO at Starship Technologies.
Capable of carrying the equivalent of two grocery bags, the robots can complete local deliveries within 5–30 minutes from a local hub or retail outlet, for 10–15 times less than the cost of current last-mile delivery alternatives. Customers can choose from a selection of short, precise delivery slots—meaning goods arrive at a time that suits them. During delivery, shoppers can track the robot’s location in real time through a mobile app and on arrival only the app holder is able to unlock the cargo. Integrated navigation and obstacle avoidance software enables the robots to drive autonomously, but they are also overseen by human operators who can step in to ensure safety at all times.
On the business side, Starship technology eliminates the most inefficient part of the chain of supply: the last mile. Instead of carrying out the delivery door to door themselves, retailers can ship the goods in bulk at a local hub, then the robot fleet completes delivery to the buyer’s door for a fraction of the cost.
The robots are intended to slip seamlessly and safely into the environment. “They travel at the slow speed of four miles per hour—a brisk walking pace. They don’t fly—these are not drones. They travel on pavements/sidewalks, blending safely in with pedestrian traffic.”
The Starship Technologies delivery service should be launched in the first half of 2016 in some areas, possibly in London.