Autonomous robots are hitting the streets of Singapore in a one-year pilot to facilitate on-demand food and grocery deliveries. The Singapore government hopes the trial will lead to a wider deployment of the drones to provide consumers with more flexible delivery services.
Currently underway in Punggol, the one-tests would enable residents in the area to choose when they would like their items delivered, rather than accommodating the online retailer's fixed delivery schedule. Shoppers at the supermarket, for instance, could drop off their purchases at a concierge counter and arrange for these to be delivered to their residential apartment at a time they desired, and continue with their shopping or dining.
Perishables including food and flowers as well as some controlled items such as medicine could be delivered through the "robot couriers", according to a statement Thursday by Singapore's Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), the government agency leading the initiative.
The pilot also would be run in partnership with Housing & Development Board (HDB), Land Transport Authority (LTA), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), logistics service provider CM Logistics, supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice, and technology vendor OTSAW.
Two OTSAW robots would be sent out to deliver parcels and groceries to lift lobbies of seven Waterway Woodcress HDB apartment blocks.
With the pilot, IMDA would be looking to assess the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) for autonomous navigation, as well as to detect and avoid obstacles. It also would be evaluating the infrastructure including communications systems and road networks, including connectivity and slopes, and business models for their commercial viability.
Stressing the need to ensure public safety, IMDA said the two drones must pass LTA's safety assessment tor supervised use of autonomous vehicles on public paths.
Weighing 80kg each, the autonomous robot would be able to move faster than 5kmph and