Uber Eats to unleash 2,000 AI-powered robots across the US that will drop off food orders

Thousands of four-wheeled robots will soon drop off burritos, salads and other food orders placed with Uber Eats.

Robotics company Serve has been working with the delivery giant since 2021, and the firms announced Tuesday they are ready to unleash 2,000 self-driving bots in major US cities starting in 2026.

The small AI-powered machines can carry up to 50 pounds of merchandise for 25 miles on a single charge, which Serve said is enough power for dozens of deliveries in one day.

Select customers who place food orders via the Uber Eats app may receive the option to deliver their orders by a Serve robot.

Thousands of four-wheeled robots will soon be unleashed in major US cities, dropping off burritos, salads and other food orders placed with Uber Eats

The partnership will provide customers with contact-free deliveries.

The robot pulls up to its destination but can only be unlocked using a secret passcode given to the customer.

Once entered, the lid on the container opens, allowing them to pull out their order and enjoy the food without dealing with a human driver. .

Uber and Serve began testing the sidewalk robots in California, which Uber said was part of its global commitment to becoming a zero-emissions mobility platform by 2040.

Serve’s robotic deliveries have grown over 30 percent month over month since deliveries began in 2022, with over 200 restaurants in Los Angeles now participating. 

Dr Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics, said in a statement: ‘We are thrilled to be growing our partnership with Uber.

‘This partnership is a major step towards mass commercialization of robotics for autonomous delivery, and it is a testament to the success of our partnership. 

‘We are excited to continue our work with Uber to bring this innovative technology to more cities across the country.’

Uber is testing six-wheeled robots from Cartken in Miami, Florida.

Select customers who place food orders via the Uber Eats app may receive the option to deliver their orders by a Serve robot

The partnership will provide customers with contact-free deliveries. The robot pulls up to its destination but can only be unlocked using a secret passcode given to the customer

Uber is testing six-wheeled robots from Cartken in Miami, Florida

Cartken’s robots navigate pavements, crosswalks and pedestrian paths within the campus area without human guidance.

The robots use Cartken’s artificial intelligence (AI) and camera-based navigation and mapping technology, which the company developed for small autonomous vehicles to operate safely around pedestrians.

Human override remains an option if necessary – for instance when a path is blocked – guaranteeing reliable operation and minimizing delivery delays.

Cartken’s robots operate up to three miles per hour and handle various weather conditions, including rain and snow.

The delivery robots will first transport items in the Dadeland area of Miami-Dade County and then expand to other cities some time this year.