Serve Robotics' New Autonomous Delivery Robots Don't Need Human Help
Serve Robotics, an Uber subsidiary that builds sidewalk delivery robots, is rolling out its next generation of robots, which are capable of completing some commercial deliveries without human involvement.
This means that in certain operational design domains or geofenced areas, Serve will not rely on remote operators for teleassistance or on followers who walk behind the robots for safety. This industry-first result of nearly five years of work by the Serve Robotics team is an important step forward for the autonomous vehicle industry, significantly lowering barriers to autonomous delivery at scale.
“I am proud that Serve Robotics has achieved Level 4 autonomy, which further enhances public safety by significantly reducing the likelihood of human error. This milestone is beginning to unlock the full potential of robotic delivery. This technical and commercial milestone is an achievement for the entire AV industry and accelerates our mission to make delivery more accessible and sustainable”
Most industry companies, such as Coco, Starship Technologies and Kiwibot, rely on remote operators who monitor autonomous deliveries and take over if a robot stops or needs help, so Serve's achievement is truly a step toward progress in robotic delivery.
“The problem we solved is that relying on remote control for safety means you must count on 100% reliable LTE networks and 100% error-free operators, which is impossible to achieve consistently. Think about what happens when a safety situation requires human attention but the video lags or the connection drops? With Level 4 robots, safety does not require people to be kept in the loop”
Serve began deploying its next generation of robots in December 2021 and said it recently completed its first delivery with Level 4 autonomy, which the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) defines as a system that can operate autonomously under certain conditions and does not require a human to take over driving. According to Kashani, the startup's robots currently have Level 4 capabilities in some areas of Los Angeles, such as Hollywood, where Serve has operated since 2018.
“When a robot is within a designated area where Level 4 is enabled, the remote video feed is turned off and the robot continues navigating autonomously, without requiring a human in the loop. Robots can always request help if they need it, for example if they encounter something unexpected. They also turn on video when crossing intersections. But most of the time they operate autonomously”
Until autonomous vehicles reach Level 5, where a system can operate in any conditions without human involvement, there will always be many edge cases that robots are not familiar with. According to Kashani, relying on people for this makes sense from both a safety and a commercialization standpoint.
Serve's new robots are equipped with a range of active sensors, such as ultrasonic and lidar sensors from Ouster, as well as passive sensors such as cameras, which help them navigate busy sidewalks. The startup has reportedly developed special features for its bots, such as automatic collision avoidance and safe emergency braking.
“Serve Robotics has made a major breakthrough in the AV industry and in sidewalk delivery. Ouster is pleased to work with Serve as they continue to scale and deploy lidar-based Level 4 autonomy in the US”
The computing needed to deliver these capabilities in real time runs on Nvidia's Jetson platform, a chip platform designed specifically for robots and other autonomous machines.
“Serve Robotics' achievement marks a breakthrough in the commercial deployment of AV technology for sidewalk delivery of goods. We look forward to Serve continuing to use NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platforms and Isaac robotics platforms to further advance its technology leadership”
Last month the company raised $13 million, which it is using to fund accelerated expansion plans into new customer segments and geographic regions. Kashani said that in line with these stated goals, Serve's next steps are to deploy its next-generation robots in more areas, starting with expansion in Los Angeles.
Serve Robotics has completed tens of thousands of deliveries in Los Angeles. The next-generation robot fleet will allow the company to enter additional regions, as it launches a delivery service for Uber Eats and other partners in 2022.
Serve Robotics is shaping the future of sustainable and autonomous delivery. The company designs, develops and operates zero-emission robots that serve people in public spaces, starting with food delivery.
Founded in 2017 as the robotics unit of Postmates, the company set out to build a robotic delivery system that customers would like, that improves reliability for merchants, and that brings vehicle emissions to zero.
Serve, spun out as an independent company in February 2021, is backed by corporate venture arms of Uber, 7-Eleven and Delivery Hero, as well as other world-class investors. The company has several established commercial partnerships and continues to expand its partner platform.
