Food delivery platform Just Eat Takeaway.com has partnered with robotics company RIVR to introduce autonomous delivery robots in Europe. The first pilot has started in Zürich, Switzerland, where robots are now delivering meals from local restaurants. Expansion to other European cities is planned later this year, with possible applications in retail and convenience delivery.
The RIVR robots are designed to handle complex urban environments. They combine wheels for efficient movement with legs for navigating curbs and stairs, enabling access to streets, footpaths, and building entrances. Using so-called Physical AI, the robots can interpret their surroundings, avoid obstacles such as pedestrians and street furniture, and move safely alongside other road users.
Each robot has a top speed of around 15 km/h and is equipped with a 40-litre insulated cargo compartment, suitable for larger orders. Deliveries follow a similar process to human couriers: restaurants load the order into the robot, the robot travels autonomously, and customers receive a notification upon arrival. Customers then unlock the cargo compartment to collect their food. Operations are monitored in real time from a central control center.
According to RIVR, the aim is to make autonomous delivery both practical and safe, while integrating smoothly into everyday city life. For Just Eat Takeaway.com, the initiative is part of a broader effort to explore new technologies that can improve customer convenience and delivery efficiency.
The collaboration in Zürich marks an early step in testing the role of robotics in city logistics. As trials continue, the companies will evaluate how autonomous systems can complement existing delivery services and potentially extend into new markets.
This development reflects the growing interest in automation within last-mile delivery, as cities and platforms look for solutions that combine efficiency, safety, and sustainability.