Ford self-driving cars to deliver Domino’s pizzas in US

Ford self-driving cars to deliver Domino’s pizzas in US

It’s one for the future, being tested now. From next month, Ford and Domino’s Pizza will begin testing food delivery using the Blue Oval’s self-driving vehicles in Michigan, Reuters reports.

The Ann Arbor-based company and Ford will deliver pizzas to randomly selected customers in Domino’s hometown in a Ford Fusion Hybrid equipped with autonomous technology. The delivery cars initially will be piloted by human drivers. Customers will be able to track the process via GPS and will receive text messages on how to retrieve their pizzas once the delivery car has arrived.

But until we have robots capable of replacing the pizza boy, the delivery service will not be truly door-to-door. Despite much excitement and experiments by Silicon Valley start-ups, humans are still very much needed in the delivery process.

In this Ford-Domino’s test run – the autonomous cars will stop outside the customer’s home, so there won’t be a knock on the door. Not so convenient for apartment dwellers, one can imagine.

Ford self-driving cars to deliver Domino’s pizzas in US

“We’re still focused on the last 50 feet. That’s a big challenge – getting (the pizza) from the curb to the door,” admitted Domino’s spokeswoman Jenny Fouracre.

Last week, Sherif Marakby, head of Ford’s autonomous and electric vehicles, signaled the carmaker’s broader ambitions in a blog post, saying Ford planned to cooperate “with multiple partners” in deploying self-driving vehicles “designed to improve the movement of people and goods.”

Previously, Ford execs had said the company expected to launch a self-driving shuttle for commercial ride-sharing fleets in 2021. It will be interesting to see how they plan to phase out humans in delivery and ride-sharing.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • AutoFrenz (the original) on Aug 29, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    Wonderful if the car can deliver the pizza up to your doorstep and ring the bell as well…yoohoo

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • If u live tingkat 5, how will robocar deliver pizza to ur doorstep? Need drone kan?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • So will the robot car then release a drone to carry pizza til my doorstep?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
    • Tahar on Aug 30, 2017 at 2:37 am

      John, That is a very creative imagination but I like the way you put it ( perhaps may happened in the foreseeable future) rather than some others just talking nonsense without any ideas

      The groups that are talking nonsense are the one always comparing and feeding negativity without any real contributions — childish mental .

      Great ideas John — bravo

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • Thx for the sapot. Ekceli that idea can take it further. Instead of using car, Ford shud use their Transit van and fit an autonomous kitchen inside. The pizza can be made inside by robot, then the roof opens for drone to fly out and deliver. Hot melting pizza straight to doorstep.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • by the time the car went thru traffic jam etc…the pizza becomes cold n soggy

    they should implement self driving bike instead

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
  • Mikey on Aug 30, 2017 at 10:46 am

    Domino pizzas delivered by bike takes 5-10 minutes. If deliver by car, it will be much longer. It defeat the purpose of FAST Delivery. It will NEVER work in Malaysia.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
 

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