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Kroger Launches Autonomous Grocery Delivery Service In Arizona (arstechnica.com)
Residents of Scottsdale, Arizona will be able to receive autonomous grocery deliveries from Kroger-owned Fry's Food Stores. The technology required to make this all possible is supplied by Nuro, a self-driving vehicle startup founded by two veterans of Google's self-driving car project. Ars Technica reports: Kroger says that deliveries will have a flat $5.95 delivery fee, and customers can schedule same-day or next-day deliveries. Initially, the deliveries will be made by Nuro's fleet of modified Toyota Priuses with a safety driver behind the wheel. But Kroger expects to start using Nuro's production model -- which doesn't even have space for a driver -- this fall. That vehicle, known as the R1, is significantly smaller and lighter than a conventional passenger car. When we talked to Nuro cofounder Dave Ferguson back in May, he argued that the R1's design had significant safety benefits. A smaller, lighter vehicle would do less damage if it ever ran into something. The vehicle's maximum speed of 25 miles per hour also makes serious injuries less likely. And the fact that the car is dramatically narrower than a traditional car gives it significant safety benefits, Ferguson argued.
So how's it going to drive on AZ's many 45 mph streets without jamming up traffic?
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not so great for foods that need to be picked and chosen, like fruits/veggies/meats/fish.
That may limit the damage these things do when they hit something, but I suspect it'll dramatically increase the damage caused by irate drivers that get stuck behind one.
Total BS. There is a driver in the car. Autonomous driving doesn't exist.
RTFA. This is a driver in a Prius delivering food. Kroger hasn't "launched" anything autonomous so STFU.
You tend to get higher quality. It also costs a lot more because they don't apply any of the discounts. Half the benefit is not having to pick through a bunch of crap produce, especially if you're not good at it (e.g. you're color blind). My bro hates shopping and before his income crashed (thanks, outsourcing & H1-Bs) he used to pay for delivery.
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Good thing, cause I'd shoot you just for being a douche fluted wance
Wouldn't a maximum speed of 25MPH qualify for an impeding traffic offense on many routes? Doesn't seem right that a car wouldn't be expected to drive the speed limit. What is the recourse for drivers who are held up behind one of these? Are they as narrow as a bicycle so people can drive around them? I see a lot of road rage coming.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
maximum speed of 25 MPH = limited use also parking tickets may rack up in the downtown areas where 25 mph max is ok.
In my neck of the woods, that Nuro R1 would be used as a live-fire target by the local po-po.
I took over most of our grocery shopping a few years ago when my wife started having health problems. I’ve found that I actually enjoy it - I find it relaxing, a lot like going for a walk except in a store. It’s a good time to decompress and let my mind chill.
I usually go fairly late in the evening, when the store isn’t busy with shoppers - although I do have to occasionally dodge the restocking crew! If I have to go in the middle of the day, it’s not quite as fun.
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I'm especially looking forward to self-driving lettuce.
-Dave
If I'm getting grocery delivery, I want someone to bring it right up to my door, or preferably into my kitchen. I don't want to have to go out to the street and take the bags out of a car. If I'm going to be lazy, I'm going all-out!
And I'm for involving humans, at living wage.
Are you seriously arguing that we should keep unnecessary and obsolete jobs around? That is economic suicide. Sometimes jobs get replaced by automation. Get over it because it isn't going to change. Seriously, expecting a low margin price sensitive business like a grocery store to not take every opportunity to reduce costs is absurd and naive. It's not a jobs program, it's a for-profit business. Personally I doubt this service will amount to anything more than a publicity stunt but I have no problem with them giving it a try. Sometimes crazy ideas really work.
The sadness is the store is now only half of a grocery store, the rest being non-grocery items, booze, greeting cards, motor oil, pharmaceuticals, concessions (Murray's Most Expensive Cheese Kiosks), and so forth.
So you complain about the price of the products they sell but want them to pay higher wages to more people. You might want to think about making your argument self consistent. You can't have it both ways. Paying people higher wages requires you to spend more money and/or to allow them to cut costs.
I have no kitties and don't touch booze....
So grocery stores shouldn't sell that stuff because you don't partake? That's awfully self centered of you.
This jibes with my experience living in AZ.
> the fact that the car is dramatically narrower than a traditional car gives it significant safety benefits
My experience riding motorcycles is the opposite. THE single most dangerous aspect of riding a motorcycle is the fact that other drivers do not see you because of your narrow profile. They are looking for car-width objects, and fail to see you even though they're looking in your direction. I no longer ride, but would consider a reverse tryke, given its wider front-end profile.
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