Postmates Obtains Permit To Test Sidewalks Delivery Robots

As to Postmates, it is the first company to get an operation permit for sidewalk delivery robots in San Francisco.

San Francisco's citizens might soon witness Postmates' adorable delivery robots rolling over on their sidewalks. The food groceries and food delivery services have got what might be the first permission allowing sidewalk delivery robots operations in this city. In December 2018, Postmates introduced Serve, a Wall-E-like delivery robot, unveiling its intentions to send the robots to deliver your orders right to your door. Just by using your smartphone or a code given by the service, you can immediately unlock Serve's compartment - the robot can bear 50 pounds of goods maximum and for up to 30 miles after one charge. 

Few years back, San Francisco was known as a ground for various companies to test their delivery robots. However, it is now just the past since the restriction on the city's sidewalks usage. Under the new regulation, those firms that desire to release their robots in San Francisco are required to ask for permission to carry out their work. Luckily, it is really a giant leap that San Francisco has just officially allowed an enterprise to give their delivery robots a trial run.

It still remains entirely unclear whether Postmates did something special to persuade local authorities. Yet, it was recently reported that the company had hired Ken Kocienda - a long-time Apple engineer - as their principal software engineer. Kocienda will join the Postmates X, which builds the food delivery company's semi-autonomous sidewalk rover, Serve. In addition, TechCrunch also stated that the firm substituted the robot's Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology for a more durable and lightweight one.

A Postmates representative said:

Based on SF Public Works Code, permissions allowing autonomous delivery machines' operation on sidewalks are valid within 180 days. In addition, the authorization is also allowed to test 3 delivery robots maximum per permittee. However, the machines cannot operate in heavily trafficked areas and there must have been a human operator to monitor these robots within a 30-foot radius.