FAQ
What is this?
It’s a six-wheeled autonomous delivery robot moving at a speed of 5-8 kph (3-5 mph) navigating pavements, pedestrian areas, and crosswalks. The size of a hand luggage suitcase, these robots can reach areas not accessible by cars.
Does a robot navigate on its own?
Yandex delivery robots use the same self-driving technology stack, as the company’s autonomous cars, adapted to driving on sidewalks at low speeds. A set of sensors, including lidars, cameras and radars, provides Yandex delivery robots with detailed information about their surroundings. The robots can see vehicles, pedestrians and animals, assess the speed and trajectory of each approaching object, and plan the safest and most efficient route in real time.
What exactly can these robots deliver?
These robots can deliver restaurant orders, groceries and purchases from online stores. They are useful for getting small- or medium-sized packages from point A to point B.
How can I get something delivered by a robot?
Based on where you are, you may be able to use one of the apps that offer delivery by robots. After you place an order through the app, a robot will pick it up and deliver it to your chosen address. You will receive a notification when your order is delivered and will be able to unlock the robot’s cargo compartment using the ‘Unlock’ button in the app.
Can these robots operate only in good weather?
Yandex robots can operate in moderate rain or snowfall, during the daytime and at night. They can also negotiate low curbs and traffic management surfaces, such as speed bumps.
Can it cross a busy road?
Yes, it can. Our robots can see traffic light signals, detect the cars approaching the crossing and estimate their speed. Based on this information, they can decide if it’s safe to cross the road or if they need to wait for a better moment.
Is there anyone who controls the delivery robots on the ground?
Our delivery robots are navigating and moving autonomously. They receive the information about pick-up and drop-off locations and navigate themselves towards those points. Yandex SDG has dedicated service personnel on the ground who may access and control the robots when necessary.
Is there someone constantly watching the robot?
There is no need to constantly monitor the robot. It can successfully deal with most situations on its own. In exceptional cases, the robot can request help from our remote assistance team. A remote assistant will then connect to the robot’s sensors to understand what is happening and give the robot instructions what to do in this situation.
How safe are these robots?
Yandex delivery robots are designed to operate in a way that ensures that their impact is minimal. They have a speed limit of 5 mph. They can detect obstacles, cars and pedestrians from far away and can immediately stop when something suddenly blocks the way.
What happens if the robot gets stuck or breaks down?
It sends a signal to the remote operator who helps the robot to deal with the situation.
How do you protect the robots from vandals or thieves?
The delivery robot’s cargo compartment is locked at all times and can be only opened by the customer through the app on their mobile phone. If someone tries to steal the robot, it will immediately alert the remote operator, who will instantly connect to the robot to see what is happening and help with the situation.
Do these robots require any specific regulation?
Yandex follows all applicable laws and regulations in each of the markets where we operate, including with all applicable import, export and other trade-related laws and regulations. Our robos are insured against any unforeseen risks, with all consequences of possible incidents covered by the insurance.
Do your robots collect personal data, such as payment details and delivery addresses?
As a logistics service provider, Yandex SDG can only access the information about the pick-up and delivery locations, which are not linked to any personal data.
How can I have my takeaway order delivered by one of these robots in my neighbourhood?
Give us a shout through our feedback form. We’ll explore the possibility of launching in your location.
What is Yandex?
Yandex is a technology company that builds intelligent products and services powered by machine learning. Our goal is to help consumers and businesses better navigate the online and offline world. Since 1997, we have delivered world-class, locally relevant search and information services. Additionally, we have developed market-leading on-demand transportation services, navigation products and other mobile applications for millions of consumers across the globe. Yandex, which has more than 30 offices worldwide, has been listed on the NASDAQ (YNDX) since 2011.
Yandex has been developing its proprietary self-driving technology since 2017. As of today, Yandex Self-Driving Group’s autonomous vehicle fleet has 170 cars, which have driven over eight million autonomous miles on public roads in various weather and road conditions in different countries, including the US. Since late 2019, the company has also been developing its own delivery robots. Yandex robots are already delivering orders from shops and restaurants to customers on several markets.
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