Dubai is set to launch takeaway food delivery robots.
The RTA will team up with talabat and the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) to launch autonomous food delivery robots, also known as “talabots”.
The food-delivery pilot scheme will be trialled in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Dubai takeaway food delivery robots
The talabots employ advanced technology and encourage the use of zero-emission modes of delivery while enhancing efficiency, which is in line with Dubai’s efforts to switch 25 per cent of all transportation trips in Dubai to be smart and driverless by 2030.
The pilot phase will see three talabots serving Cedre Villas residents, in Dubai Silicon oasis.
The high-tech food delivery robots will take food up to 3km and aim for a speedy 15-minute delivery time.
Using AI technology, the robots will transport orders from the nearest restaurant partners to the residential neighbourhood of Cedre Villas, meeting customers at their doorstep. With talabat’s app interface fully integrated, customers will be able to track the robot’s journey and will be notified through the app when it arrives at their property.
Once arrived, the customer can unlock the secure compartment by following the steps provided within the talabat app.
The launch of autonomous delivery robots is part of ambitions to support riders in the next generation of sustainable delivery by having robots cover short-distance deliveries to increase efficiency, fleet optimisation and reduce carbon emissions.
Tatiana Rahal, Managing Director at talabat UAE, said: “A monumental leap towards the future of online food delivery and smart mobility, we are excited and proud to unveil our fleet of talabots, which witnessed great success when they were first introduced in Expo 2020 Dubai, to offer sustainable and seamless delivery experiences to residents in DSO.”
Dr Juma Al Matrooshi, Director General of Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), said: “Smart mobility is one of the six pillars of DSO’s Smart City Strategy, which is at the core of piloting carbon-neutral delivery robots in a closely monitored and controlled environment within the hi-tech park.
“We look forward to the success of this trial, and its expansion as part of DSO’s role as an innovation- and knowledge hub under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.”
Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of The Public Transport Agency, RTA, said: “This step is in line with the RTA’s strategy to promote innovation, integration, innovative mobility, and relevant skills and expertise, in addition to providing the private sector with the tools needed to adopt autonomous mobility services in its operational processes.”
This milestone is a direct result of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, organised by RTA annually. It is also part of the RTA’s ambitions of expanding the deployment of self-driving transport at all levels by enabling and empowering leading companies in the sector as self-driving transport plays a fundamental pillar of RTA’s strategy.
In line with UAE regulations to protect the community’s privacy as a top priority, the AI technology deployed in the talabots safeguards people’s identity by blurring faces with no facial recognition detection feature.
Moreover, to blend in peacefully within the community and for ease-of-mind of customers, the talabots are fitted with various in-built sensors and state-of-the-art algorithms that can intelligently gauge surroundings and detect barriers in their pathway, keeping a safe distance from toddlers and pets.
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