Uber Eats to Launch Self-Driving Robot Deliveries in Japan in Collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken

In an exciting development, Uber has revealed that its Uber Eats division will soon introduce self-driving robots to deliver food in Japan. Teaming up with Mitsubishi Electric and the delivery robotics company Cartken, this initiative is set to revolutionize the food delivery industry.

The collaboration between Uber Eats, Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken will see the deployment of self-driving robots to transport meals in a select area of Tokyo starting from the end of March. This marks the first international expansion of Uber's autonomous delivery service, which previously operated exclusively in a few U.S. cities. The "Model C" robot, developed by Cartken and equipped with artificial intelligence for navigation and capable of matching human walking speed, will form the core fleet for the robot courier service in Japan. Mitsubishi Electric will oversee the operational aspects of this groundbreaking endeavor.

Collaboration with Uber Eats

Anjali Jindal Naik, the COO and co-founder of Cartken, expressed the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing that it represents a significant step forward in reshaping the future of food delivery. She highlighted the potential to make food delivery more accessible and sustainable for consumers in Japan. This statement underscores the transformative potential of this partnership and its broader implications for the food delivery ecosystem.

This move in Japan follows previous collaborative initiatives between Uber Eats and Cartken, including sidewalk robot deliveries in Miami and Fairfax, Virginia. Moreover, Uber Eats has also engaged in partnerships with other robotics companies such as Motional, Nuro, and Serve Robotics to pilot autonomous delivery services in various U.S. cities, further demonstrating the company's commitment to innovation and technological advancement.

The introduction of self-driving robot deliveries in Japan represents a significant milestone in the evolution of food delivery services, signaling a shift towards advanced autonomous technologies in the industry. With this strategic collaboration between Uber Eats, Mitsubishi Electric, and Cartken, the future of food delivery in Japan is poised for a remarkable transformation, promising enhanced accessibility and sustainability for consumers.