Domino’s Launches Autonomous Pizza Delivery in Houston

Beginning this week, a segment of Domino’s patrons in Houston will experience pizza delivery without any human interaction.

The leading pizza chain announced on Monday a collaboration with Nuro, an autonomous vehicle startup, to facilitate pizza drop-offs to designated customers via Nuro’s R2 robot.

Exploring the Future of Delivery

“Our brand has a considerable amount to learn regarding the autonomous delivery sector,” stated Dennis Maloney, Domino’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer. “This initiative will provide valuable insights into customer responses to these deliveries, their interactions with the robot, and the impact on our store operations.”

Customers ordering from the Woodland Heights location through the Domino’s website will, during specific times, have the option to request R2.

How the R2 Robot Works

The R2 robot utilizes advanced technology, including radar, 360-degree cameras, and thermal imaging, to navigate its route.

Customers will receive text updates detailing the robot’s location and a PIN code required to access their pizza through the robot’s touchscreen interface.

The Rise of Contactless Delivery

The pandemic significantly accelerated the growth of the contactless, autonomous food delivery industry, and Nuro is well-positioned to become a key player in this evolving landscape.

“At Nuro, our core mission is to enhance daily life through the application of robotics,” explained Dave Ferguson, Nuro’s co-founder and president. “We are thrilled to introduce our autonomous delivery robots to a select group of Domino’s customers in Houston and eagerly await their feedback.”

A First for Houston

This marks the inaugural instance of meals being delivered by an electric, self-driving vehicle without a human occupant on Houston’s roadways.

Woodland Heights, a predominantly residential and historically significant neighborhood, is bordered by the I-45 and I-10 highways.

The Domino’s location on Houston Avenue, a major street, presents a complex environment for piloting this new technology.

Nuro’s History and Expansion

Nuro initially unveiled its partnership with Domino’s and commenced testing in Houston back in 2019.

That same year, the company began deploying its vehicles to deliver Kroger groceries in both Houston and Phoenix.

By the end of 2020, Nuro received approval to initiate testing on public roads in California, providing delivery services for partners such as Walmart and CVS.

Nuro holds the distinction of being the first company to secure regulatory approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation for an exemption related to self-driving vehicle operation.

Looking Ahead

Domino’s represents Nuro’s first significant venture into restaurant delivery, but it is anticipated to be just the beginning.

The company recently announced a $500 million Series C funding round, with participation from Chipotle.

Woven Capital, the investment division of Toyota’s innovation subsidiary Woven Planet, also contributed to the funding, initiating the fund’s investment portfolio.