Delivery Robots Help Washington Supermarkets Stay Open During COVID-19 Pandemic

It’s a surprising sight to see a self-driving delivery robot full of grocery items navigate a nearly empty sidewalk and crossing intersections. #Coronavirus #CoronavirusUpdates #COVID19

The new technology is also helping restaurants and grocery stores stay open while limiting person to person contact during the coronavirus pandemic.

Richard Teare has lived in Washington DC for nearly 60 years and often sees the robots roam around his neighborhood.

“There is a robot now,” Teare said, pointing one out. “I would almost say uncanny and it’s very careful. It stops for not only intersections but just for alleys.”

The creative contraptions are made by Starship Technologies, which did their first robot deliveries in 2016 on the streets of California.

The idea was to combine autonomous robots with mobile mapping technology, and the company is continuing to expand the contactless delivery service during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many small businesses are jumping on board including Broad Branch Market, which is co-owned by Tracy Stannard and John Fielding in Northwest DC.

The advanced devices can travel within a 4-mile radius of their starting location, and its entire journey and location can be monitored on a smart phone.

“I think today we have five robots running,” Stannard said. “We’ve had up to 10. It depends on their availability, and right now some are out mapping, so the distance gets further.”

The small neighborhood store started testing the robots in late March as they were changing their business model to make sure their staff and customers stay safe during to public health crisis.

“We got that all situated with the delivery and pick up when we closed the store April to customers,” Stannard said. “And so, it’s taken us a good two weeks to get our legs under us and get our grocery delivery and ordering system in place.”

Through the Starship app, customers can find local stores that are partnering with the company, place their order and it will be delivered directly to the street in front of their home.

“Well I think it’s a sign of things to come,” said Teare who has not used the delivery service yet.

“But at the same time somebody has to put the bags into the robot and when the robot arrives or when I get home with my stuff probably we are going to wipe it off with the Clorox solution,” Teare added.

Staff at Broad Branch Market are wearing masks and gloves and they load items into the delivery robots, and Stannard said it’s also a great way to connect with customers and provide some entertainment during this dark time.

“Literally it’s like the highlight of peoples day when they get a robot,” Stannard said. “It’s so fun, and funny, and just exciting and different. It’s a great distraction.”

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/2TwO8Gm

QUICKTAKE ON SOCIAL:
Follow QuickTake on Twitter: twitter.com/quicktake
Like QuickTake on Facebook: facebook.com/quicktake
Follow QuickTake on Instagram: instagram.com/quicktake
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJ0oQZ
Email us at quicktakenews@gmail.com

QuickTake by Bloomberg is a global news network delivering up-to-the-minute analysis on the biggest news, trends and ideas for a new generation of leaders.


In This Story: California

California, a western U.S. state, stretches from the Mexican border along the Pacific for nearly 900 miles. Its terrain includes cliff-lined beaches, redwood forest, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Central Valley farmland and the Mojave Desert. The city of Los Angeles is the seat of the Hollywood entertainment industry. Hilly San Francisco is known for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and cable cars.

2 Recent Items: California

Prince harry urged to return to uk as financial situation worsens 1

Prince Harry urged to return to UK as financial situation worsens

Netflix generated $32B in revenue in 2023, here’s a look at the company’s history

In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.

5 Recent Items: COVID-19

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs as tech stocks soar | January 19, 2024

Stock market today: Stocks climb with techs ready to roar | January 19, 2023

Dr Anthony Fauci ‘became part of the problem’ when it came to the spread of Covid misinformation

WEF summit: Canada warns of future supply shocks amid global instability

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.