Deliveroo Announces Coco Robot Delivery Rollout for Five UK Locations

Deliveroo, the UK-based food delivery giant, has announced plans to introduce Coco, a delivery robot, in five locations across the country. The rollout begins in London's Canary Wharf in October, marking Coco's debut in the UK and Deliveroo's first use of autonomous delivery vehicles. Four-wheeled, fully electric robots will initially serve merchants like Patty&Bun, Signorelli, and Beam. Deliveroo aims to expand the service to Milton Keynes, Leeds, Stockton-on-Tees, and Nottingham in the coming weeks and months.

The deployment will occur in phases, adhering to local regulations, and will also involve discussions with councils regarding future launches. The companies anticipate that investment in depots, charging facilities, and operational infrastructure will generate jobs in maintenance, logistics, and operations.

Coco's robots move at a walking pace, using cameras, sensors, and AI to navigate sidewalks and deliver orders directly to customers. The technology is primarily designed for short-distance trips, complementing Deliveroo's existing rider network rather than replacing it. A significant portion of orders will continue to be handled by human riders, though the exact percentage of orders that could eventually be managed by robots has not been disclosed.

Beyond their delivery capabilities, Coco robots will share real-time sidewalk hazard data with BlindSquare, a service for blind and partially sighted pedestrians. This information can improve navigation alerts for visually impaired individuals. BlindSquare founder Ilkka Pirttimaa highlighted the robots' potential for enhancing pedestrian safety, particularly in cities where they operate.

While the launch offers an extra delivery option, particularly for short trips in dense urban areas, the effectiveness of Coco will depend on factors like location, participating restaurants, and the availability of robots during order times. For restaurants and retailers, the service serves as a testbed for robot delivery in local contexts, with business value contingent on delivery reliability, coverage, and costs.

The rollout also expands DoorDash's automation efforts, including its recent approval for commercial drone delivery in the skies.