A service has begun in which self-driving home delivery robots deliver products purchased at supermarkets to homes.
In addition, there is a demonstration experiment in which the luggage is delivered by getting on and off the elevator in the condominium.
If it becomes widespread, it will reduce contact between people, which will be an infection prevention measure and is expected to help solve the labor shortage of delivery staff.
1. Deliver on a general road
Rakuten, a major IT company, and Seiyu, a major supermarket, have started a service to deliver products bought at supermarkets to homes using self-driving robots.
I go to a supermarket in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture for a limited time from 23rd to 1 month.
The robot is a box-shaped electric vehicle with a height of about 1 meter and 15 centimeters, and when an employee loads a product that has been ordered online or deposited at a service counter in a store, it travels on a general road to a designated address. And carry it.
The robot is equipped with cameras and sensors, and when it detects a person or an obstacle, it stops or avoids while running.
Upon arriving at the specified address, the customer can open the door of the robot body and receive the product by entering the PIN number notified by e-mail or the like.
A woman in her 80s who used the service said, "It's convenient because I couldn't carry heavy luggage and could only buy rice and water little by little."
This time, the charge is free and the delivery range is limited to about 200 meters from the store, and a staff member will accompany the robot to ensure safety, but Rakuten will solve the labor shortage such as home delivery drivers due to the expansion of demand for online shopping. There is a purpose to connect, and I would like to consider expanding the service in the future.
Hideaki Mukai, general manager of Rakuten, said, "In order to expand the service in earnest, it is necessary to develop safety measures and systems, and we want to collect data for that purpose."
2. Getting on and off the elevator at the condominium
Demonstration experiments have also begun in which self-driving home delivery robots deliver luggage by getting on and off elevators in condominiums.
Japan Post and Hitachi have been conducting demonstration experiments at an apartment in Narashino City, Chiba Prefecture since late last month toward the practical application of home delivery using autonomous robots, and released it to the press on the 23rd.
The robot is 70 cm high, 50 cm wide and 50 cm deep, and runs on electric tires.
When the delivery person starts with a dedicated application and inputs the delivery destination room, the robot comes to the entrance of the condominium, and the delivery person opens the lid on the top of the robot and loads the luggage.
Then, it starts to move slowly, passes through the aisle in the condominium, and operates the elevator remotely to move to the front of the delivery destination room.
Upon arriving in front of the target room, the robot sent a message to the resident's smartphone to notify them, and the resident entered the PIN code in the message to unlock and receive the luggage.
If it is put into practical use, it will reduce contact between people, which will be an infection prevention measure and is expected to help solve the labor shortage of delivery staff.
Mr. Yoshihiro Gomi of Japan Post said, "The need for non-contact is accelerating and the demand for robots is increasing. We would like to increase as many cases as possible to actually introduce them in the next three years."