Cost
Materials/Manufacture
Due to the function of the robot, operating everyday of the year, it is going to be exposed to a large variety of weather conditions and therefore the chosen material needs to be durable and resistant.
The robot currently costs around £4169.80 but they aim to reduce this to £1706.05 eventually
Compared with delivering via delivery workers or driving to get food yourself, the use of the Starship robot is considered to me most cost effective
Reduces costs to deliver
Customer
Function
Safety
The vehicle moves on sidewalks and has a maximum speed of 6km, the general walking speed
Suitable for locations within a short distance and have the ability to map all pavements within the local area
Have the ability to wait if something obstructs it’s path and if the object still obstructs the way the vehicle will turn around and find an alternative route
Generally just suitable for shorter distances otherwise it will take much longer for the order to arrive compared with delivery drivers as they can transport at higher speeds
The robots are equipped with a sensor suite that includes cameras, GPS inertial measurement unit, ultrasonic sensors, radar
Disadvantage is that it cannot travel to destinations with stairs and it may obstruct the pedestrian path for a wheelchair user
99% autonomous but can be remote controlled if something goes wrong
Alarm sounds for security purposes in case someone attempts to steal the vehicle
May be used by a customer with a busy lifestyle who is unable to go to the shops to purchase food so it can fit in with a busy lifestyle as it operates 365 days a year
May also be useful for someone who physically is unable to go to the shops
The customer can simply purchase the food via a smartphone app where they can also track the order and receive a notification when it has arrived
Carry items within a 4 mile radius
The compartment is mechanically locked throughout the journey and can only be unlocked by the recipient. This therefore eliminates worry of theft of items.
The vehicle is reliable at delivering the food
Theft proof due to being mechanically locked
Only move at pedestrian pace to avoid disruption of flow of pedestrians
The vehicle stops when obstacles like pedestrians obstruct its path and say “excuse me, may I please get past” to avoid collision with object or person.
Aesthetics
The vehicle is a simple and elegant white design with black features and a tall orange flag consisting of the company name
It has 6 largely scaled wheels which ease the ability of moving up or off a kerb by raising a row of wheels at a time
Surrounding the vehicle ether are numerous cameras
The vehicle is nicely designed with a rounded shape
Size
The Starship Robot has a total length of 67.8 cm, overall width of 56.9 cm, and height of 55.4 cm. The total height with the flagpole is 124.8 cm. Starship Robots weigh 23 kg and can carry a payload of 10 kg.
The size is ideal for walkways to allow for pedestrians to pass by however it may create difficulties for wheelchair users on the same path
Environment
It is an electronically powered robot which is both energy and cost efficient
Proprietary technology makes it highly efficient
Less pollution compared with the customers driving to get the food themselves
Material to protect the electronics
Aesthetic shiny white appearance of the vehicle