Colombia’s Rappi trials robots to deliver restaurant food to homes

People wearing face masks watch delivery robots from the Colombian company Rappi traveling down a street, amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak in Medellin, Colombia. — Reuters

BOGOTA: Colombian startup Rappi is piloting deliveries by robots as a safe way of getting food to people forced to stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The pilot started this week in Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city. The boxy robots, which travel on four wheels and are decked with orange flags on their antennae, carry deliveries of up to 35 square centimeters (5 square inches) and are used to transport restaurant orders paid for digitally.