This electric, self-driving delivery robot can bring pizza to your door
If you're looking to get a pizza delivered in downtown Vancouver, your delivery person might not be a person at all.
That's because pizza delivery robots are being tested in the city as part of a pilot project with Pizza Hut and Serve Robotics.
"It works just like any other order you've placed," said Ali Kashani, the CEO of Serve Robotics.
"If you're between the proximity of the restaurant, in this case, the one on Robson Street, and a robot is available, it may be the one assigned to you," he explained.
The two bots, named Raja and Hugo, are the first of their kind in the city, but the project launched a few years ago in the U.S.
According to Kashani, his bots have made more than 25,000 deliveries – and he hopes the project will be a success in Canada as well.
Kashani, who received his PhD at UBC, said the bots are better for the environment as they release less CO2 emissions than vehicles.
"It's a lot safer than cars for pedestrians, and for bikers and everybody else,'' he said. "Also, you don't have to tip."
He also said the bots are not meant to replace human delivery people, but rather bridge the labour shortage gap.
"These robots would do the more tedious deliveries where you make less money," Kashani said.
For now, the bots only travel about 500 metres in Vancouver, but they have the capability of traveling several kilometres.
Kashani said he isn't worried about someone stealing his bots, even with the city's history of theft, especially since no one has stolen one in the U.S.
"It's different than bikes and scooters because you can't really do much with it, so there's no market for it. People can't use it personally," he said.
You could be seeing more of them in the near future as the company is looking to expand beyond the pilot project.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.