Self-driving meal delivery services are becoming popular in the hospitality industry as well as others. There are many advantages to using this service. It delivers food to a customer’s doorstep without them having to go out. It saves gas, especially now as a result of the political and economic crisis. It helps those who do not have a car or are not able to drive due to medication or other medical reasons. It reduces the labor shortage issues, especially when there is a lockdown. It also improves the performance and productivity of the business. As a result, it is not surprising that Uber has entered the self-driving service market regardless of the challenges presented by EVs and robots.
Uber Technologies announced on Monday that it had begun testing autonomous food delivery services this summer. These services include self-driving cars as well as a separate test for sidewalk robots. Both services are supervised by human operators at this time before technology is implemented at scale. Companies that are in this trend are pushing back the timeframe for providing these services on a large scale. The reason is that there are only a limited number of fully autonomous programs accessible in the U.S.
As of now, these services will be offered to Uber Eats customers, who have the option to opt out, in two California locations only: Santa Monica and West Hollywood. However, the company aims to launch the service across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The company is also in collaboration with Motional, Hyundai Motor’s and Aptiv’s self-driving joint venture, on the autonomous car project. For the sidewalk robot project, it is provided by the company Uber purchased in 2020, a spin-off delivery business post mates called Serve Robotic. In an effort to encourage drivers to convert to a battery-powered vehicle, a map of electric car charging sites will be added to its driver apps in the U.S.
The issue is the expense of an electric vehicle and its battery. CNET reported on some of the reasons why buying an electric car is more expensive than buying a regular automobile. Insurance, repair, and maintenance costs for EVs and conventional cars are examples of such factors. A gasoline automobile costs half as much as a Tesla Model 3 ($60,000). Other factors to consider are the price of power, the car’s value over time, and the expense of replacing a battery. The price of electricity or gasoline varies from state to state. Some states have higher prices than other states, and vice versa. The value of any car, new or old, is going to plummet in the long run since there is always a new car model coming out. Replacing the battery part of the EV is more likely than replacing the gasoline engine of a gasoline car, not to mention the price. The reason is the insufficient battery and the age of the EV model. The cost of replacing the battery of an EV varies, but $10,000 is a reasonable estimate.
According to Consumer Report, lead-acid battery prices have risen in tandem with rising labor, transportation, and material costs, as well as the impact of COVID 19. Consumers are also shifting to expensive and good-quality batteries, according to Battery Council International and Bill Nonnamker, vice president of Stryten Energy. This is because advanced battery designs demand more raw materials and a longer production process to power today’s automobiles, said Bill Nannamaker.
What is more, manufacturers are shifting to absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries, which are designed to withstand draining and recharging cycles more repeatedly than lead-acid batteries. Jennifer Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports’ Auto Test Center, said that there is a shift in the use of battery types. Factory owners are shifting to AGM batteries, a better value than lead-acid batteries, to meet the demand for the security of control outlets, electrical, and computerization. The price of AGM batteries is twice as much as lead-acid batteries, especially the leading batteries. They range from $200 to $300.
The New York Post shows pictures of a sidewalk robot, a command center, and a self-driving car. The four-wheel sidewalk robot is a good size for small items. It does not take up much space to share a sidewalk with pedestrians. It seems safe, but it depends on how many people walk daily or on occasion, and if the sidewalk is wide enough to fit pedestrians and robots together. It also depends on the speed and the function of the sidewalk robot. Cameras are in front for monitoring, along with two headlights for night time. A screen on top probably shows the customer’s order. The self-driving car in the picture is like a normal-looking car. Other than that, there is one device on the driver’s side and another one attached to a small panel on top of the car.
Self-driving food delivery services have their reasons for and against. Customers who do not want to go out at a certain time or who want to save gas. People have the option of having food delivered to their doorstep. This is the same as for those who do not have a car, or those who are unable to drive due to medical reasons. Companies will have opportunities to solve labor shortage issues, improve performance, and retain their businesses. The elevated maintenance, training, operation, and repair costs of EVs and sidewalk robots, and replacing human drivers are some of the challenges. Other obstacles include ethical and legal issues, responsibility, and recompense for property damage caused by these goods.
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Uber launches robot food delivery in California
