On day 2 of Digital Regions – Today and Tomorrow, we had the opportunity to ask Hendrik Albers, Regional Manager Central Europe at Starship Technologies, a few questions about his company’s product – a delivery robot. In addition to the presentation of the vehicle in Albers’ conference presentation, the robot could also be seen live in action at the trade fair.
aconium GmbH: The six-wheeled delivery robot from Starship Technologies travels at up to 6 km/h, has a radius of action of 2-3 kilometers in which it functions optimally and can transport a payload of approx. 10 kilograms. What were the role models for your robot and how were they developed further?
Hendrik Albers: There were no role models in that sense because the technology is completely new. We had to think for ourselves about what such a robot should look like, what functions and what design it should have so that it is accepted by the public on the one hand, but can also fulfill the purpose of delivery on the other. It was very important to us that it be seen as part of pedestrian traffic. The robot has round sides so that people cannot injure themselves on it and is small enough so that it is not perceived as a nuisance.
aconium GmbH: The robot has already been deployed in London and Tallinn, the headquarters of Starship Technologies. Since May 2017, your robot has been taking over the delivery service on behalf of a pizza chain in Hamburg. What experience have you gained from using it so far?
Hendrik Albers: First of all, our aim was to create social acceptance for the robot; we had to explain to customers what added value the robot can bring. When I order a pizza, I want it as fast and hot as possible. We were able to do this successfully. We have also experimented with parcel delivery services with time windows in which customers want the parcel delivered. It is a great convenience if you can limit the delivery to a specific hour when you are at home, for example, rather than being given a long period of time in which you have to be at home and wait a long time, as is the case with most parcel service providers. The option of informing customers when the parcel has been dispatched and allowing them to track it is very popular. You can think of it like a cab app. You can see the robot on the way to its destination. It’s also an advantage that most people don’t notice the robot very much in everyday life. There is not much interaction – people just look and then move on.
aconium GmbH: To what extent will the Starship Technologies robot be used in the future? What timeframe have you set for this?
Hendrik Albers: The robot is already in commercial use. We are convinced that the future of delivery is that of the last mile. The extent of its use will ultimately be determined by customer demand. The more that is ordered and therefore delivered, the more we at Starship are striving to make some of these deliveries environmentally friendly, quiet and in line with the recipient’s needs. However, you should not think of delivery by robot as a replacement for a supply chain, but rather as an extended link in a supply chain. As a consumer, you can still choose whether you prefer personal delivery by a human courier, but you may also have to be prepared to bear the higher costs involved. There are many areas in which the robot works just as well or better than the existing system and can therefore complement it. However, other systems will remain in place, for example the bicycle courier with a radius of action of 5 to 10 kilometers. Delivery robots can cover the demand in the local area, for example, which according to various studies arises where an increased demand for delivery services meets a shortage of drivers. aconium GmbH: What demands do you have on the digital infrastructure so that your plans can be realized? Hendrik Albers: The faster the internet connections are, the better, of course. The better the broadband supply, the shorter the redundancy and response times. With the Internet of Things, you have to share the broadband network with many users. It is therefore in our interest as users to be able to access our part of the broadband network with a high level of security, and for this we need a fast and, above all, stable Internet connection. In addition, nationwide coverage with digital infrastructure is a prerequisite for the possible use of our delivery robots, especially in structurally weaker regions.
Photo above: Hendrik Albers (Regional Manager Central Europe, Starship Technologies) on October 25, 2017 in Berlin at the “Digital Regions – Today and Tomorrow” trade fair. Photo credits: aconium GmbH / Florian Schuh