Food delivery robots have arrived to the neighborhood
COCO CROSSING the street en route to deliver food. Photo courtesy of Coco staff
By Bridget Smith
Delivery robots showed up in the Larchmont area just over a year ago, but have been making short-trip deliveries near the Grove and in the Arts District for much longer. According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), these cute little guys have made more than 10,000 deliveries in the area so far.
LADOT regulates these “Personal Delivery Devices” along with a variety of mobility devices in the City, such as scooters. Using advanced digital tools, LADOT ensures the robots do not exceed speed thresholds, sets limits on the fleet size, monitors insurance and vehicle requirements, and collects information on where delivery robots travel to ensure that sidewalks remain accessible and safe.
LADOT has permitted two companies to use delivery robots in our area: Serve Robotics and Coco. In L.A., Serve Robotics has been delivering UberEats on demand since last May. Coco users can also use UberEats or other delivery platforms to arrange delivery.
These all-electric robots take cars off the road, reducing traffic and emissions. Similar to self-driving cars, these robots use cameras and sensors to navigate autonomously without human intervention. However, they also have human supervisors who oversee the robot for safety. Serve robots have a maximum speed of 11 mph, which is about the same as a beginner bike rider. However, LADOT limits them to walking speeds on sidewalks. Serve robots can generally travel for about 14 hours/48 miles before recharging and can hold the equivalent of four pizzas in their 15 gallon cargo spaces.
Sweetfin uses Coco for deliveries. Owner Seth Cohen says Coco “offers consumers a faster, cheaper delivery experience with a higher-quality end product. The moment our product is ready to leave our kitchens there is a Coco waiting to fulfill the delivery right outside our front doors.”
However, unlike their human counterparts, they cannot leave your items at your doorstep. The robots cannot climb stairs, so most customers will need to meet them on the sidewalk. They also only discharge their cargo when a human unlocks their insulated compartments using their app.
Category: News
