Leeds robot delivery scheme likely to expand
A council report also said the robots have saved around 6,000kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) and new pilots could be launched in partnership with the University of Leeds and logistics firm Evri.The white, six-wheeled machines travel on pavements, can navigate around obstacles and travel at human walking pace - no faster than 4mph (6km/h).They were even dressed as reindeer over Christmas 2022, the year they launched. The report added: "The expansion of the Starship trial service in areas throughout Leeds has been approved to support future growth in this sector over the next few years."The transport strategy team is initiating talks with potential providers to explore support for upcoming trials."But Ryan Stephenson, Conservative councillor for Harewood, pointed out: "You can't do your weekly shop in them. "I suspect people are sat on their couches, ordering pasties and a bottle of pop and paying extra for the privilege."
'Pasties and pop'
He added: "What they are not doing is going to the shop and supermarket, and while they are there calling at the other shops and the high street and spending."The service is currently only available in north and east Leeds with Co-op stores in Adel, Tinshill, Kippax and Swarcliffe involved in the scheme. The report also said the initiative was still at the trial stage because the government did not yet allow robots to permanently use public highways, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Wakefield Council has also teamed up with Co-op and Starship Technologies to offer the service to 13,000 residents of Outwood.Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
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