Uber is getting some automated help for its deliveries in North Texas.
The technology company is tapping Austin-based Avride’s delivery robots and autonomous vehicles under a new partnership, according to a partnership announced on Thursday.
The sidewalk robots will assist at the state’s capital in the coming weeks and then roll out in Dallas with more options for Uber Eats, along with Jersey City, N.J. Avride’s autonomous vehicles will assist with the traditional ride-hailing service for residents next year locally.
“Autonomous mobility and delivery hold a ton of promise for consumers and communities,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement. “We’re excited to partner with Avride to bring their technology to more people in more places, as they continue to scale.”
As robots get more attention for common tasks, the Dallas area is increasingly welcoming the automated machines that aim to efficiently move items and people around the region.
Earlier this week, Serve Robotics, which develops automated four-wheeled machines, unveiled a pilot partnership to work with Wing, a drone delivery company, to help improve transporting orders in Dallas. The effort, which marks Serve’s entry into Texas, is set to arrive in the coming months. Earlier this year, General Motors’ autonomous taxi company Cruise began to offer rides to locals.
Under the Avride deal, when someone opens Uber Eats app a customer can request a qualifying delivery, they may get an option to fulfill the request with an delivery robot. The same goes for the Uber app — consumers may see a way to find their next stop with an autonomous vehicle.
Already, Avride’s delivery robots are making commercial deliveries in the U.S. and South Korea, while its autonomous cars are getting tested on public roads.
