Arlington now has food delivery robots through Uber Eats

[00:00:00]Another story that you'll see first here on Fox 5. Starting today, food delivery robots are navigating their way around Arlington.

[00:00:07]>> Now, a company partnering with Uber Eats to bring the autonomous vehicles to the heart of the city. Fox 5's Tisha Lewis is all over this story. She's in Arlington now, and she's going to explain how this is all going to work out because your next meal could get delivered by one of these robots in Arlington. They're autonomous vehicles, Angie.

[00:00:27]>> Yeah, here's Tisha.

[00:00:29]Call it a sign of the times, fully autonomous robots navigating the streets and sidewalks here in Arlington. Already up and running in parts of the country, and now here in Northern Virginia.

[00:00:44]In an exclusive behind-the-scenes look, Fox 5 cameras got a first look at the latest technology to hit Arlington streets. Autonomous food delivery robots by Evry.

[00:00:56]>> When you see them, what's your reaction?

[00:00:57]>> Okay. Um well, amusement.

[00:01:01]Um curiosity.

[00:01:05]Some wonderment.

[00:01:08]They don't look like food delivery resources. Although, I guess you put a tray on them, and it would work.

[00:01:15]>> Would you use it?

[00:01:20]>> I might. Might be a little hard to do in my place.

[00:01:24]They don't look like they'd climb stairs very well.

[00:01:26]>> Even so, they stole the show on Wilson Boulevard. Passersby stopping and staring at the white cooler-like fixtures with a digital interface.

[00:01:35]>> It was developed to help businesses deliver local food and entrees and such to areas such as the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

[00:01:47]>> Basically, we just go into the Uber Eats app like you would normally order food from Uber Eats, and before you check out and confirm your order, you will be asked if you would like to um have a delivery person or an autonomous robot deliver your food.

[00:02:04]>> Uber Eats says the company looks forward to bringing this technology to more Uber Eats customers over time. We're told 30% of deliveries take place in snow and rain. And the rectangle-shaped robots are said to be good with speed bumps and low curbs.

[00:02:18]>> Wait.

[00:02:19]>> We saw for ourselves on this test run from the 2000 block of Wilson Boulevard to the 2100 block of Clarendon Boulevard ending at Arlington Public Library.

[00:02:30]>> It can become a little bit of a a problem or problematic for uh folks, you know, they're um in the way. They stop at at intersections and aren't quite sure what to do when there's busy traffic.

[00:02:42]>> I would say that some of the challenges um would be keeping up with demand.

[00:02:48]>> The robots do not speak, but they can communicate.

[00:02:52]>> We just are programmed um with like heart eyes or like smiley eyes.

[00:02:58]One thing to remember, too, is if you choose a delivery robot, you don't have to tip the robot.

[00:03:04]>> And no speeding with a 5-mph limit.

[00:03:07]We're told Avery's already operating in Austin and Dallas, Philadelphia, Jersey City, and now Arlington. We did ask what this means for food delivery drivers, and we're told Avery only operates within a 2-mile radius, and most food delivery drivers go much further.