Austin-based tech company Avride plans to launch a fleet of automated delivery robots in downtown Dallas next year, according to a City of Dallas memo.
Last month, Dallas’ Assistant City Manager Dev Rastogi delivered a memo to City leaders stating that Avride plans to deploy personal delivery devices (PDD) in early 2025 in conjunction with Uber for Uber Eats deliveries.
“The PDD is designed to operate on sidewalks and paved surfaces, interacting safely with pedestrians and other road users. It is not intended for highways, private properties without permission, or areas not designated for pedestrian use,” read the November 15 memo.
The new robots from Avride weigh 44 pounds. At full capacity, they can carry upwards of half a dozen extra large pizzas plus three large drinks. The robots are already roaming the streets of Austin, and other U.S. cities are also expected to begin seeing the autonomous machines.
The Avride website says the robots can work in any weather condition, whether sun, rain, or snow. The company also claims the machines are “polite on the road” and maintain a safe distance from passersby.
Since the robots employ LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), they can be used at night or during the day, enabling 24/7 use. The delivery robots also have two other sensors, including cameras that can identify traffic light signals and ultrasonic sensors that can help the bot rapidly stop if anything gets in its way.
The robots can even handle crosswalks independently and discern when a driver gives them the right of way.
So far, Avride has produced over 160 robots that have completed around 200,000 deliveries.
This is not Dallas’ first foray into robotics. Last month, the City launched its new fleet of autonomous maintenance tools as part of its initiative to lower carbon emissions and improve environmental quality. The City unveiled the future tech at Kiest Park in Oak Cliff. The $250,000 equipment includes robotic mowers, trimmers, and blowers.
In partnership with UT Dallas Dining, Starship Technologies has been using its PDDs for food, snack, and beverage deliveries on the University of Texas at Dallas campus for the past five years. Students and faculty can use the Starship Deliveries app to order food deliveries from 11 different eateries and markets on campus.
Currently, the City of Dallas does not have any regulations relating to PDDs.