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Pizza lovers in parts of Austin, Texas can now have their pies delivered by robot.
The three-wheel, self-driving REV-1 is the product of Refraction AI, an autonomous vehicle startup based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Refraction AI partners with Southside Flying Pizza, which has multiple locations in Austin.
“Our expansion into Austin is another step in our vision of turning last mile delivery into an ubiquitous, accessible, and sustainable service that anyone can participate in,” said Luke Schneider, CEO of Refraction AI, adding that of current solutions for on-demand delivery are “broken”, with businesses and households struggling to keep up with rising fees while “profitability remains elusive” for even the biggest players.
Customers who order from participating restaurants can choose to have their food delivered by a REV-1. Refraction AI promotes completely contactless delivery: After ordering, the customer receives updates on the delivery status via SMS. The customer is notified when the REV-1 arrives at the curb and then unlocks the robot with a four-digit code that he received via another text.
The REV-1 is roughly the size of a person on a bicycle. It can reach a speed of 15 mph and has a loading capacity of 16 cubic feet, enough space for about six shopping bags, according to Refraction AI.
The robots are mainly on the move on bike paths or on the side of the road. But Refraction AI says they can whiz through lanes and cross sidewalks “as needed”.
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