'It's a good use of technology': How residents of Headingley and Hyde Park feel about 'quirky' delivery robots
‘I think it’s a good use of technology’
Residents in north Leeds have spoken out about they feel sharing the street with the new delivery robots.
Seeing delivery robots out on the streets is something that residents of Headingley, Hyde Park and Woodhouse have been getting used to in recent months - since they launched at the beginning of the year.
In partnership with UberEats, the six wheeled delivery robots have been taking the student hotspot by storm.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, residents of the north Leeds suburbs spoke out largely in favour of the “quirky” and “cute” robots.
“I think they are very quirky and nice to see on the high street,” local resident Sandra told the YEP. “I think it’s a good use of technology, especially for those who are not able to get out and about as they can deliver at all hours.”
Lewy said: “If it’s trying to cross the road then we’ll push the button for it. I don’t use them but it’s like having a cute little robot. I like it.” Abhi added: “I think they are very convenient and good. It’s the best way to deliver food.”
Another resident, Ben was less of a fan however, and said that while we can use technology to “further our lives,” he didn’t believe this was one of them, and expressed concerns that it may lead to delivery drivers losing their jobs.
The little robots can complete journeys of up to two miles in under 30 minutes, according to a spokesperson for the company behind them, Starship Technologies.
Currently operating in other UK cities, including Sheffield, Barnsley, Milton Keynes and Bristol, more than two million deliveries are believed to have been made with them since they first launched in 2018.
The autonomous delivery robots machines were first spotted in parts of east Leeds in 2022, after Leeds City Council partnered with Starship and Co-Op in a pilot scheme aimed at reducing car pollution.