More and more meals are delivered by robots in Canada, but this market still faces significant obstacles.
For example, the Pizza Hut chain uses the robot from the company Serve Robotics for its deliveries in certain areas of Vancouver. In Toronto, pink robots named Geoffrey were delivering meals for the firm Tiny Mile, but city officials banned them last year.
The goal of these robots is to reduce traffic, encourage local commerce and help restaurants deliver meals to their customers at a lower cost.
For Serve Robotics, a subsidiary of U.S. delivery company Postmates, the logic is simple: given restaurants’ low profit margins, labor shortages and concerns about climate change, “why deliver a two-pound burrito with a two-ton vehicle? “.
But the appearance of these robots does not make everyone happy. Several major cities have banned its use. According to them, robots represent a danger for people with poor vision or poor mobility, for the elderly and for children. Cyclists are already raging against e-scooters on bike lanes and don’t want to see robots there either.
“Robots get a lot of attention from pedestrians when walking on sidewalks, because you don’t see them that often. People are thrilled to see them. But if their employment continues to grow, it could cause traffic jams on the already tight sidewalks,” said Prabhjot Gill, an associate partner at McKinsey & Co.
Others are worried about seeing robots controlled abroad replacing delivery people here.
According to the CEO of Serve Robotics in Vancouver, Ali Kashani, criticism is part of the natural cycle of innovation. For example, when the bicycle was invented, many feared it would lead to an increase in divorces, he says.
Mr. Kashani defends his robots by pointing out that they alert people to their presence by making a sound and flashing lights. They are equipped with intelligence, a guidance system and emergency brakes allowing them to avoid collisions.
He believes that the use of robots will ultimately benefit everyone.
And the environment will come out a winner. Mr. Kashani estimates that half of the deliveries only cover a distance of less than 2.5 km. And 90% of them are by car. About 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to people using their cars to run errands in their neighbourhood.
“There are several reasons to quickly replace cars [de livraison] by these robots. However, we have no reason to make everyone our enemy,” concedes Mr. Kashani.
Well aware that new ideas often face opposition, Serve Robotics is cautious in its discussions with authorities and governments before launching its service in a city. There are no laws prohibiting or allowing robots.
Opposition
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance President David Lepofsky doesn’t believe robots can co-exist with humans. They can cause accidents. Worse still, they can be used to transport contraband or weapons.
Mr. Lepofsky insists that his opposition to robots does not mean that he is against innovation. He just wants to make sure the streets will remain safe for everyone.
“It’s not like we’re depriving people of a service. There is a way to deliver pizzas since we deliver pizzas: we call it a human. »
Manish Dhankhler, a senior executive at Pizza Hut Canada, admits delivering pizza isn’t worth risking anyone’s safety. However, he reports that the chain only partnered with Serve Robotics when their robots completed several thousand deliveries without harming anyone on the mainland.
However, the chain is not yet ready to use robots on a permanent basis.
“We want to learn more,” says Dhankhler. What would happen if they were used in the snowy areas of Saskatchewan? How would robots react in the ice? »
As for the Geoffrey robot, it was also observed in Ottawa, but there too the municipal authorities refused to authorize its use. Tiny Miles had to leave Canada.
“We were almost bankrupt,” agrees Ignacio Tartavull, the company’s CEO. It’s a miracle we survived! »
Tiny Miles has moved its operations to Florida and North Carolina.
“It was love at first sight! exclaims Mr. Tartavull. We’ve talked to municipal governments, and they’re competing for us. »