DoorDash's new delivery robot Dot can navigate sidewalks and roads
DoorDash just introduced Dot, its new self-driving delivery robot.
Dot can deliver food and small packages at up to 32km/h and is currently being tested in Phoenix, Arizona.
By the end of 2025, DoorDash expects Dot to reach about 1.6 million residents.
Here's what Dot looks like
Dot weighs 159kg, stands under five feet tall, and can carry up to 13.61kg—think six pizza boxes at once.
It sports a bright red look with LED eyes and a mouth-shaped cargo door.
With eight cameras, four radar sensors, and three lidar sensors onboard, it's built to spot obstacles on roads or sidewalks.
How does Dot interact with customers?
Dot uses real-time AI to pick smart routes and avoid trouble.
It's equipped with microphones for future customer interactions and has cameras to help prevent vandalism.
For safety, it pauses at the roadside instead of relying on remote control.
How Dot will impact human drivers
Dot is designed for those tricky "first and last 10 feet" of delivery—quick on roads but nimble enough for sidewalks.
It'll handle routine orders while human drivers focus on high-value orders that require human judgment and care, a move that city and state officials believe could make neighborhoods less congested.
DoorDash vs Uber and Instacart in autonomous delivery race
After seven years of development—including acquiring Scotty Labs and bringing on the co-founders of Lvl 5—DoorDash is rolling out Dot in Phoenix with an ecosystem of support infrastructure in place for its small fleet.
The company hopes this puts them ahead as they compete with Uber and Instacart in the race for autonomous deliveries.