Food delivery robots are already running in nine Finnish cities, and their endurance during winter weather will soon be tested.
Successful pilot experiments held in the Helsinki metropolitan region in the spring of 2022 have boosted the popularity of the automated couriers.
The grocery chain S Group, the only store in Finland currently offering the service, plans to offer robot delivery through the coming winter.
S Group business developer Tiina Meyer said that the robots meet the demands of their customers, who hope to have their purchases delivered quickly to their home, even during the winter.
First winter for the bots
The bots have been popular, with videos of the food delivery vehicles getting stuck or wandering around aimlessly have gone viral on social media.
So there is concern over how well the robots can handle a Finnish winter.
S Group believes that there will be no major problems. Winter tires installed under the robots should guarantee a safe and reliable ride.
"Snow should not be an obstacle. Winter tyres should have more grip," Meyer said.
If the weather turns out to be very bad and, for example, it snows heavily, the robots can be temporarily taken out of service.
"We closely monitor weather reports and always react according to the situation," Meyer added.
Accidents involving the robots have not been reported to S Group at all, and the police have no records of such accidents, at least in Southwest Finland and Tampere.
While the company is still optimistic about the performance of the robots this winter, S Group's Meyer said that citizen assistance would still play an important role.
"Yes, sometimes they get themselves into situations that they cannot get out of on their own. So you can continue to help if the robot is climbing or asking for help," Meyer said.
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