Mitsubishi and Cartken Partner for Robotic Delivery

Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken Launch Autonomous Delivery Pilot Program

Mitsubishi Electric, the electronics division of the renowned automaker, is initiating a pilot program focused on evaluating the potential of autonomous robots. This venture involves collaboration with Cartken, a startup founded by former Google employees that emerged from stealth mode last March.

Initial Deployment and Service Details

The initial phase will see a limited number of Cartken’s delivery robots deployed within a Japanese shopping center to offer both indoor and curbside food delivery services. Starbucks customers will be the first to benefit from this innovative service.

Customers utilizing the Starbucks app will have the option to select robotic delivery for their orders. A Cartken robot will then deliver the order to the customer at designated pickup locations inside or outside the mall, as outlined by Mitsubishi.

Pilot Program Timeline and Expansion Plans

The pilot program is scheduled to run through April 2022 at Aeon Mall Tokoname. According to Anjali Jindal Naik, COO and co-founder of Cartken, there are plans to expand the service to include a porter service, mirroring curbside pickup options for other shoppers.

This collaboration marks Mitsubishi’s first foray into utilizing delivery robots, providing an opportunity to explore further applications for this technology within the developing Japanese autonomous delivery market.

Mitsubishi’s Vision for the Future

Naoki Fujita, manager of Mitsubishi Electric’s Mobility Innovation Department, stated to TechCrunch that Mitsubishi Electric aims to establish a new market for robot delivery in Japan by leveraging Cartken robots.

Fujita emphasized that this is a novel undertaking for the company, and they intend to utilize their existing knowledge, technology, and customer relationships across Mitsubishi’s various business units to ensure the program’s success and subsequent expansion into new markets.

Future Collaboration and Technological Development

While initially functioning as a distributor for Cartken’s technology, the two companies plan to collaborate on developing additional technologies to support Mitsubishi’s future partnerships.

Currently, they are investigating the development of facility technology that will enable Cartken’s robots to seamlessly interact with elevators, as noted by Fujita.

Benefits for Cartken

Cartken, which previously partnered with REEF Technology to offer self-driving food delivery in downtown Miami, will benefit from Mitsubishi’s expertise in electrical equipment.

This partnership will also facilitate the startup’s establishment of a presence within the Japanese market.

Strategic Location: Aeon Mall

The selection of Aeon Mall as the pilot location is strategic, as Aeon is one of Asia’s largest retailers, operating a vast network encompassing numerous malls, convenience stores, and supermarkets.

Naik explained to TechCrunch that the mall’s high foot traffic provides an ideal environment for testing the robots’ performance and investigating a range of use cases.

The goal is to rapidly deploy additional robots to enhance the delivery service for more visitors and achieve scalability by 2022.

Robot Selection and Safety Features

Mitsubishi chose Cartken’s Model C robots due to their demonstrated safety and reliability in both indoor and outdoor environments, according to Fujita.

These robots are capable of autonomous navigation both inside and outside the mall, but are also equipped with remote monitoring systems that allow for human intervention when necessary.

Remote Assistance and Operational Efficiency

Naik reported that instances requiring emergency remote assistance have been minimal.

She cited new construction necessitating alternative routes as an example of situations where a remote operator is involved, and also noted that remote assistance is utilized during the initial setup phase, enabling rapid deployment within a few days while the robots learn the service area map.

Competitive Landscape

Serve Robotics, a spinout from Uber, recently announced similar levels of autonomy for its robots.

The company claims its robots can achieve full autonomy within specific, geofenced operational areas, and, like Cartken, maintains remote operators on standby for emergency situations.