It’s called DRU and it looks like it’s from a movie set in 2035
Delivery of goods is definitely an area where autonomous drones or wheeled vehicles could really come in handy, so a self-driving bot for pizza delivery seems like a terrific idea. Domino’s Pizza has stepped forth to create the first such delivery bot and it looks like it’s ready to start brining you your pizza.
That’s the impression you’re left with after seeing the company’s promo video showcasing the creation of the bot it calls DRU (short for Domino’s Robotic Unit).
Aside from the cutesy but modern design, DRU is “a four wheeled vehicle with compartments built to keep the customer’s order piping hot and drinks icy cold whilst traveling on the footpath at a safe speed from the store to the customer’s door.”
It’s also said to be able to “navigate from a starting point to his destination, selecting the best path of travel. His on-board sensors enable him to perceive obstacles along the way and avoid them if necessary.”
Domino’s didn’t specify a time frame for when it’ll actually start rolling these out, but its intention to do so is clear and it seems the company wants to be a world leader in this field (the bot is developed in-house; they only enlisted outside help to get the design just right).