UPDATE (5 September)
Just two weeks of operation, the Zurich city police intervened and temporarily halted the robot’s service.
The Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) is now investigating whether the robot dog meets safety standards for all road users. Questions about its speed and monitoring systems are being reviewed.
Both Just Eat and Rivr stated they’ve paused deliveries until all open questions are resolved.
Just Eat Takeaway.com has partnered with Swiss robotics company RIVR to pilot the use of autonomous ground robots for food deliveries.
The company is the first on-demand delivery platform in Europe to test wheeled-legged hybrid robots equipped with Physical AI.
The RIVR robot combines wheels for efficient movement with legs that enable it to climb stairs and kerbs.
Using Physical AI, it can navigate different environments, avoiding obstacles such as bins or grass, and move safely around pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists.
The robot travels at about 15 km per hour and is designed to operate in varied weather conditions, including rain, snow, heat, and wind.
It has a 40-litre capacity, with an internal divider to prevent spillage, allowing it to transport larger orders.
Deliveries follow a process similar to courier services. Restaurants place the order inside the robot, which is secured with a locking system.
Customers unlock the cargo compartment upon its arrival, after receiving a notification.
The robot is monitored in real time from a control centre and can be stopped instantly in an emergency, either automatically or by remote command.
It is also equipped with lights and a flag to remain visible at all times.
The pilot will begin in Zurich, Switzerland, with deliveries from local restaurant Zekis World.
Just Eat Takeaway.com has indicated plans to expand robotic delivery services to other European cities later this year, with potential applications in retail and convenience deliveries.
The initiative follows its drone delivery trials in Ireland with Manna.
Zornitsa Chugreeva, Senior Global Innovation Director at Just Eat Takeaway.com, said:
“Our vision is to empower everyday convenience, and we believe innovation is an important driver in bringing that vision to life. It drives our commitment to exploring, testing and integrating new services and technologies, all aimed at enhancing our proposition and driving an even better experience for our ecosystem.”
Marko Bjelonic, Chief Executive Officer of RIVR, added:
“Our collaboration with Just Eat Takeaway.com is a glimpse into a future where automation blends naturally into our cities, helping people get what they need, when they need it. Physical AI allows our robots to understand and adapt to the real world. It’s a step toward making autonomous delivery not only efficient, but intuitive, safe, and truly human-centred.”
Featured image credit: Just East Takeaway.com
