Starship Technologies shows off its personal delivery device
In keeping with the Washington Auto Showês future mobility theme, Starship Technologies demonstrated its personal delivery device (PDD), a small robot coming this month to the sidewalks of DC. The bot can deliver up to 20 pounds of groceries, parcels and food at the convenience of the customer.
The PDD is designed to make deliveries in 15 to 30 minutes in a two-mile radius, for $1.00 or less. In Washington, it is working with Postmates food delivery service to deliver groceries. With a maximum speed of 4 mph, it will stay on the sidewalks. DC is one of two U.S. cities to try the pilot program. (The other is Redwood City, CA.) The bot has been tested in 56 cities in 16 countries.
The six-wheeled bot has nine cameras and is controlled by a human through a smart phone in a remote location who tracks it to the nearest inch. The aim is for the PDD to operate 99 percent autonomously. It is all electric, operated with lithium-ion batteries.
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