Trafford Council expands robot delivery scheme

An autonomous robot delivery scheme in Trafford is being expanded to new encompass new areas, Trafford Council has confirmed.

So far, the pavement-riding robots have been conducting deliveries in Sale and Timperley.

Based on the success of these trials, Trafford Council and partners now intend to roll them out in Urmston, Flixton and Ashton-on-Mersey.

Customers ordering from select local Co-op stores can now avail of the service.

Once orders have been made through the associated app, customers can schedule their delivery, then drop a pin based on the desired delivery location.

To traverse pavements and avoid obstacles, the robots use a combination of sensors and artificial intelligence, with computer vision-based navigation helping them map their environment to the nearest inch.

According to a statement from the council, the electric robots have already saved more than 300 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere in the UK.

Read more: Co-op expands autonomous robot deliveries across Leeds

What’s more, the average robot delivery uses as little energy as it takes to boil water for one cup of tea, according to the developers of the bots, Starship Technologies.

Cllr Stephen Adshead, executive member for highways, environmental and traded services, said: “Trafford Council is totally committed to helping the environment and reducing our carbon emissions and the electric robots could well contribute towards those aims.

“The robots have reduced thousands of car journeys and are cutting emissions. They also come to the aid of the elderly and disabled who find it difficult to get to their local shops by bringing the items to their door. We are excited to be working with the Co-op and Starship Technologies to extend this initiative.”