Robots hit the streets as demand for food delivery grows Part 2

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Category: Technology/Innovations

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. drawback / ˈdrɔˌbæk / (n.) – a disadvantage or a negative characteristic
    Example:

    One drawback of working from home is the lack of socialization.


  2. radius / ˈreɪ di əs / (n.) – an area measured around a specific point
    Example:

    People who live within the 12-kilometer radius of the volcano should move out of the area.


  3. inflexible / ɪnˈflɛk sə bəl / (adj.) – unable or unwilling to change, adapt, or adjust
    Example:

    My sister gets annoyed when her schedule is not strictly followed. She’s very inflexible.


  4. elevate / ˈɛl əˌveɪt / (v.) – to raise or increase something
    Example:

    Feelings of nervousness can elevate your heart rate.


  5. shortage / ˈʃɔr tɪdʒ / (n.) – the condition of not having enough of something
    Example:

    There’s usually an electricity shortage during summer.


Article

Read the text below.

Continued from Part 1…


The robots have drawbacks that limit their usefulness for now. They’re electric, so they must recharge regularly. They’re slow, and they generally stay within a small, pre-mapped radius.


They’re also inflexible. A customer can’t tell a robot to leave the food outside the door, for example. And some big cities with crowded sidewalks, like New York, Beijing and San Francisco, aren’t welcoming them.


But Bill Ray, an analyst with the consulting firm Gartner, says the robots make a lot of sense on corporate or college campuses, or in communities with wide sidewalks.


Delivery companies are also jumping into the market. Grubhub recently partnered with Russian robot maker Yandex to deploy 50 robots on the campus of Ohio State University in the state’s capital, Columbus. Grubhub plans to add more campuses soon, although the company stresses that the service won’t go beyond colleges for now.


U.S. delivery orders jumped 66% in the year ending in June, according to NPD, a data and consulting firm. And delivery demand could remain elevated even after the pandemic eases because customers have gotten used to the convenience.


That has many restaurants looking to solve the labor shortage with robot delivery. “There is no store in the country right now with enough delivery drivers,” said Dennis Maloney, senior vice president and chief digital officer at Domino’s Pizza.


Domino’s is partnering with Nuro, a California startup whose self-driving pods go at a top speed of 25 mph (40 kph) on streets. Nuro is testing grocery and food delivery in Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and Mountain View, California. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The article said that robot deliveries have drawbacks (ex. needs regular recharging, inflexible). Given these drawbacks, do you think robot deliveries can work in your country? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Many restaurants are looking to solve the labor shortage with robot delivery. In your opinion, is robot delivery the best solution to the problem? Do you think this solution is short-term or long-term? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Food delivery services like Grubhub found a market for robot deliveries on college campuses. What are other possible target markets for this service (ex. offices, residential areas)? Discuss.
  • Delivery demand could remain elevated even after the pandemic eases because customers have gotten used to the convenience. What convenience have you gotten used to during the pandemic (ex. working from home, online shopping)? Do you think you would do this less often once the pandemic is over? Discuss.