Artificial Intelligence: Pizza Delivery by Delivery Robot

Together with the company Teraki, which specializes in software for artificial intelligence, Domino's wants to test the use of a delivery robot. During an initial period of five weeks, this robot will transport hot pizza and snacks for the Berlin Charlottenburg Nord store.

It operates on four wheels, has an insulated compartment, and moves semi-autonomously within the so-called Golden Mile in Berlin. According to the delivery company, it is currently the only robot in Germany officially authorized to operate on sidewalks and thus in public spaces (and not on a campus or in a closed area).

The technology comes from the automotive industry and ensures safer deliveries at lower costs, said Geert-Jan van Nunen, CCO of Teraki. According to him, the software has been tested in the automotive industry and certified by authorities.

Using sensors (cameras, radar, telematics), the delivery robot is supposed to learn more with each order, to navigate the sidewalks. Deliveries will initially take place locally in Charlottenburg Nord to optimize existing algorithms and increase the robot's level of autonomy with each delivery.

"Especially in light of the highly competitive labor market and the shortage of drivers, we are convinced that in the future we will rely on the support of delivery robots to continue to meet our customers' needs optimally. The 'Golden Mile,' as we call the close vicinity of our stores, offers great opportunities for autonomous delivery," said Andrè ten Wolde, Domino's Pizza Enterprise CEO Europe, adding: "We see delivery robots as a future complement to our drivers in the close vicinity of our stores and never as a replacement."

According to Domino's, the goal of the multi-week testing phase is to gather enough information for the further development and future deployment of delivery robots in urban areas.