Trial of food delivery robots begins in Sale

Trafford Council has approved a pilot scheme to bring food delivery robots to Sale. 

The ‘robots’, officially known as Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs), are run by Starship Technologies, who work with the Co-op supermarket. 

The PDDs, which carry food, groceries, parcels, and industrial supplies to thousands of homes, will now be used for deliveries by Co-op stores on Coppice Avenue and one on Washway Road. Residents book the delivery on an app and can unlock the robots on arrival.

They are zero-emission robots that use a combination of sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning to travel on pavements and navigate around any obstacles. Computer vision-based navigation helps them to map their environment very accurately and a central control centre can intervene if the robot encounters a significant issue. The Council will regulate the operation of the PDDs during the trial to ensure the safety of residents.

Starship Technologies are trialling the robots in the area and feedback will be used to decide if the scheme is made permanent.

A  spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “We believe that the scheme could help assist vulnerable residents in Sale and Timperley who have limited access to local shops and will offer an alternative way of receiving goods and services. Residents could also use the delivery service instead of travelling in their cars to local shops.

“We will, of course, monitor the trial very carefully before making a decision on deciding whether the scheme would be introduced on a permanent basis.”