Worldwide Technology Adoption

United States of America

Walmart, one of the most prominent retail stores in America, has continuously deployed autonomous delivery services by ground and air. In fact, Walmart became the first retailer to conduct a drone delivery expansion across five states consisting of southern cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa. Leading up to this expansion since 2021, Walmart has recorded a success record of 150,000 completed drone orders. Uber Eats, another major food delivery company, has plans to deploy 2,000 delivery robots in their fleet for select restaurants and locations.

Canada

Serve Robotics, an autonomous delivery robot company, has partnered with Pizza Hut Canada in 2022 to deliver food in Vancouver, BC. On the east coast, Real Life Robotics have been making a presence in the autonomous robot technology field. As a Waterloo-based startup, they have made significant steps in deployment as they have launched Canada's first municipally sanctioned robot in Markham, Ontario in the winter of 2024. In the following spring, they began commercial autonomous robot food delivery under a 90 day trial, alongside Skip. 

Asia

JD.com, the largest autonomous delivery company, has been continuously operating in more than 20 cities across China with a fleet north of 400 autonomous delivery robots. In Shanghai, these robots have the capabilities to carry 100kg of goods and drive 80kg per device charge. Using AI and sensor technology, these autonomous robots are able to safely and successfully avoid physical constraints while on path to delivery. These delivery vehicles were mainly in response to COVID-19, racking nearly 6,800km travelled and 13,000 successful deliveries during the peak of the epidemic. 

Europe

LMAD, a Finnish-French robotics company, has been in the works of robot deliveries in Europe. In 2023, LMAD deployed an autonomous robot to deliver parcels to worksites in Helsinki, Finland. This robot was given the name "HeRo" (Helsinki Robot) and has been planned to deploy to serve the Würth Center network. However, regarding the rest of Europe, there have been strict regulations which have held back research and development progress. 

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