Shake Shack in LA Delivers Burgers by Robot
Customers ordering a meal from Shake Shack in Los Angeles may have their next burger delivered by a robot on wheels.
The fast food restaurant, which sells burgers, fries, milkshakes and more, is working with Uber Eats and Serve Robotics to bring customers their orders using a robot that drives itself from the restaurant to their home.
When ordering a meal from Shake Shack through the Uber Eats app, customers in Los Angeles are given the option to have their food delivered by a Serve robot. Customers can then track the robot on its journey from the restaurant to their address, just like any other delivery.
The robot is around a meter tall and looks like a box on four wheels, with two lights at the front which look like eyes. According to reports, the robots can carry up to 23 kilograms at a top speed of 11 kilometers per hour — and they only travel on sidewalks.
Food orders are put into a secure space that can only be unlocked by the customer with the Uber Eats app once it arrives at their home.
Serve Robotics told CNN Business that the robots reduce congestion, emissions and road accidents, while also reducing the cost of delivery. And the best part? You don't need to tip a robot!
Since 2022, the robots have already made thousands of deliveries for Uber Eats and 7-Eleven in Los Angeles, and are among many companies making robot deliveries in other cities. But there can be problems.
While Serve says that its robots complete their deliveries over 99% of the time, online videos of people damaging the robots and stealing what's inside of them went viral in 2023.
The robots can also have problems traveling on broken or uneven surfaces, and some people are worried they might block sidewalks.
