This robot just made its first home delivery in B.C.
A robot designed by a B.C.-based company hit the streets recently, making its first home delivery of a customer's order.
In an ongoing partnership with retailer London Drugs, InDro Robotics stepped up testing of ROLL-E 2.0 last week. Initially, the robot's cart could be loaded up and sent to meet customers for curbside pickup.
The latest phase of the pilot project is testing its ability to make longer trips and drop off orders on people's doorsteps.
CEO Philip Reece says the inaugural delivery in Surrey last week saw ROLL-E successfully travel a distance of several kilometres.
"It crossed over a few roads, challenged a few pavements, went up and down some curbs and finally got to its destination," he told CTV News.
"They didn't have to leave the house. They got a full shopping cart full of full of goods delivered to them. It's always novel having a robot roll up to your front door to do that delivery."
ROLL-E is operated by a human who monitors cameras and controls the movement. It's equipped with signal lights and brake lights so passersby can get a sense of where it's headed. Reece says a big part of the trials the company is doing is monitoring how people react to seeing the machine "trundling about" on streets and sidewalks.
"The delivery of the items is actually quite easy. Having the robot interact with the road and the pavement – all very easy. One of the things that we still have to learn and we're gathering lots and lots of information on is: How do people interact with the robot?" Reece explains.
"It's surprised even us who work with robots all the time how nonchalant people become about it."
However, in situations where someone is taken aback by the robot, Reece says the human can "mic up" and explain what ROLL-E is and what it is doing.
Reece says there are plans to ramp up the capacity of this robot and that two more are being built. Ultimately, he thinks the technology will become more commonplace.
"We're trying to gauge what it is that people are going to want. And the only way we'll really find that is through offering the service more and more," Reece says.
Convenience is one obvious reason people opt for home delivery – whether it's done by a robot or a person. But Reece says using these fully electric robots has another benefit.
"It's taking a car off the road. How many times do we rush out, we jump into the car, we zip to the store, and we pick up pint of milk or whatever, and drive all the way back. ROLL-E's fully electric, and we could do all of those deliveries, those short hops, almost as quick but definitely a whole lot more ecologically friendly," he says.
"There's no carbon footprint for it. The more and more deliveries it does more and more cars we hope to take off the road."
The company has been doing deliveries by drone in more rural and remote areas for some time. Reece says these robots are a better option for urban and suburban locales. He points to California, where robots are becoming more common, as a sign of what may be to come here in Canada.
"We're doing it a little more Canadian. We're making the robot a little politer and a little easier on the eye. So we'll roll it out, just perhaps not as quick as they are down there.'
With files from CTV Vancouver's Alissa Thibault
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.