“A world without errands, where everything is on demand and can be delivered affordably.” That’s the world that Dave Ferguson, founder of robotics startup Nuro, envisions.
The Kroger Co. must be in agreement. The grocery giant announced in a press release, after nearly 1,000 deliveries during a few months of testing, its plans to roll out a partnership with Nuro for a grocery delivery service using the startup’s custom unmanned vehicle, the R1. Driverless and passengerless, the R1 travels on public roads and is solely for the transport of goods.
“Kroger customers are looking for new, convenient ways to feed their families and purchase the products they need quickly through services like pickup and delivery,” added Yael Cosset, Kroger’s chief digital officer. “Our autonomous delivery pilot with Nuro over the past few months continues to prove the benefit of the flexible and reliable technology. Through this exciting and innovative partnership, we are delivering a great customer experience and advancing Kroger’s commitment to redefine the grocery experience by creating an ecosystem that offers our customers anything, anytime, and anywhere.”
"Unmanned delivery will be a game-changer for local commerce, and together with Kroger, we're thrilled to test this new delivery experience to bring grocery customers new levels of convenience and value."
"Unmanned delivery will be a game-changer for local commerce, and together with Kroger, we're thrilled to test this new delivery experience to bring grocery customers new levels of convenience and value," said Ferguson. "Our safe, reliable, and affordable service, combined with Kroger's ubiquitous brand, is a powerful first step in our mission to accelerate the benefits of robotics for everyday life."
If you live in Scottsdale, AZ and are interested in giving this delivery service a spin, you can schedule same-day or next-day orders from Fry’s Food Stores. In addition to the R1, self-driving Prius vehicles round out the Kroger’s delivery fleet.