In China, delivery robots now ride the subway to restock 7-Eleven stores
Dozens of squat delivery robots have now begun riding subway trains across the network during off-peak hours, exiting at each station where a 7-Eleven is located to make deliveries, according to a report by local news outlet SZNews.
The project is the first of its kind in the world and marks the latest step in Shenzhen's
push to expand the use of robots from the factory floor to other areas of urban life, the report said.
The metre-tall robots – operated by a logistics subsidiary of the Chinese property giant Vanke, which is part-owned by Shenzhen Metro – are capable of autonomously riding lifts, entering and exiting platforms, boarding trains and delivering goods to 7-Eleven stores across the city, according to SZNews.
The 41 robots reportedly caused a stir during their first day on the job, as passengers gathered around them to snap photos as they lined up inside the carriages. But the project is not simply a public relations stunt; it aims to solve a long-standing logistical problem faced by retail outlets inside Shenzhen's subway stations.
'In the past, delivery workers had to park above ground, unload goods, and manually push them into subway stations,' Li Yanyan, a manager at one of the 7-Eleven stores involved in the project, told SZNews. 'Now, with robots, it's much easier and more convenient.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Mainland Chinese hotel brands poised to reshape Hong Kong's hospitality scene, analysts say
Mainland Chinese hotel operators are expected to significantly increase their presence in Hong Kong's hotel industry , potentially replacing established brands in the coming years, according to analysts. Currently, Western and international operators dominate Hong Kong's hotel landscape, while Chinese ones have a minor presence. Among some of the more notable mainland players, BTG Homeinns operates both upscale and mid-market hotels in Hong Kong, including the Wharney Hotel in Wan Chai, Oasis Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui, and Oasis Aurum 181 in Sai Ying Pun. However, mainland brands had significant potential for growth, said Hannah Jeong, executive director and head of valuation and advisory services at CBRE Hong Kong. 'The Chinese operators are increasing their footprint and it's a global trend,' said Jeong, adding that because 70 per cent of tourists in Hong Kong came from the mainland, Chinese hotels 'must show their presence' in the city. The shift reflects the growing ambition of Chinese hotel operators to expand beyond the mainland, which could give them a competitive edge in attracting hotel asset owners, according to CBRE. Tourists at the Observation Deck of the Peak Tower. Photo: Elson Li Hotel operations typically follow several business models, such as a master lease – where the hotel owner leases the asset to an operator – or hotel service management, whereby the operator manages the hotel on behalf of the owner.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
China's tech hub Shenzhen mandates leniency for innovators whose state-funded projects fail
Authorities in China's southern tech hub of Shenzhen have called for leniency towards innovators whose government-funded projects fail or do not pass evaluation. Advertisement The first policy statement of its kind from the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission comes as China aims to cement the city's status as a hi-tech powerhouse and reduce reliance on foreign technology amid a sustained strategic rivalry with the United States. The new rules applied to all universities, hospitals and companies that undertake technical innovation with government financial aid, the commission said in a statement on its website last Monday. It said that if the mistakes did not involve misconduct, there was no abuse of power and the innovators took reasonable actions to correct the errors, then they should not be punished. The statement further listed scenarios where such exemptions could be made, such as goals stalled due to technical difficulties, products developed but rendered unviable due to market changes, or research remaining incomplete because of the need to explore new mechanisms, methods, models or technologies. Advertisement 'These units and individuals should not be held accountable, nor should their performance evaluations be affected. They should not be hindered from applying for government-funded scientific and technological projects again,' the document said. It urged that researchers be encouraged to 'boldly explore uncharted territories and strive to become creators of significant scientific achievements', as well as to set up a long-term mechanism to avoid losses caused by failed innovations.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong must grow ‘exponentially' to match Shenzhen: outgoing Science Park CEO
Hong Kong will have to grow 'exponentially' before it can be compared to the likes of Shenzhen with its innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, a goal that can be achieved by bringing in talent and capital, the Science Park's outgoing CEO has said. Advertisement In an exclusive interview before he steps down on Friday, Albert Wong Hak-keung said the government-backed innovation hub at Pak Shek Kok had come a long way from its early days about two decades ago, from first being seen as simply a landlord to now staking its claim as a start-up incubator for the city's future growth. 'At the beginning, we were struggling to determine whether Science Park is a real estate project or what we are,' said Wong, who joined the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation in 2016. He will be succeeded by Terry Wong Ping-sau, who has 30 years of global executive leadership experience across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe and the United States. The outgoing CEO said he had not yet made any future plans. Advertisement The Science Park supports 700 to 1,000 start-ups at any given time with incentives such as allowing them to operate rent-free in the first year, and provides communal facilities including semiconductor, biomedical and robotics labs, along with an extensive incubation programme.
