Forum Virium Helsinki is running a pilot in Kalasatama with the aim of testing new smart home services and finding new solutions for light deliveries in an urban environment. From the last week of September onwards, customers of REDI shopping centre may have spotted a small wheeled robot moving about on its own. Its task is to deliver meals on-demand from K-Supermarket to the Majakka high-rise building. Customers can place an order via the building’s Asumi service on their computer or mobile device, and the delivery robot will take the products directly to the customer or to the collection point in the building’s shared facilities.
The key aim is to learn how autonomous couriers could address last-meter delivery challenges in everyday urban life. The pilot is a part of the agile pilots in the 6Aika (Six City Strategy) New Solutions in City Logistics project, which seeks smart solutions for organising urban logistics as lightly, sustainably and effectively as possible. The idea is to try out interesting new services the likes of which are not yet on the market.
Delivery with robot
This is an ongoing robot delivery pilot in Kalasatama district in Helsinki implemented by technology company Dimalog in collaboration with Omron and service design agency Muotohiomo. The pilot is coordinated by the city of Helsinki’s innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki with its partners SRV and KONE. SRV is involved regarding the smart living services directed at Majakka residents, while KONE Oyj offers the lift interfaces for the delivery robot to move about in Majakka. Another essential partner is REDI’s K-Supermarket, which has the opportunity to test the robot in its services.
Will this be the future?