Starting today you can have your groceries from SPAR delivered on campus again! Last summer, delivery Robot Rosie left to be tested in a different setting in California. We now welcome Rosie 2.0 on campus, to continue the robot delivery pilot. This new robot will be studied by students to research its possible impact on people's lives.
As of 1 June 2023, the pilot with delivery robot Rosie 2.0 at Erasmus University Rotterdam has ended. It is no longer possible to have your groceries delivered on campus by the robot.
Have Rosie 2.0 deliver your food for free!
During the pilot, you can have your groceries from Spar University delivered on campus by self-driving robot Rosie 2.0. Simply click the button “delivery” in the Spar University App and place your order. After 10 to 15 minutes, you’ll be able to pick up your order at the pick-up point of your choosing (University Library or Hatta Building). By email you'll receive a link to track, open and close the robot.
Delivery is free of costs during the pilot period, so make sure to give it a try soon!
Pilot results so far
The previous delivery robot Rosie (Robot On SIte Erasmus) was operational on campus Woudestein for 147 days. In that time she was active for 1150 hours, drove 55 km and delivered 136 orders. Students from the LDE Minor Smart and SHARED Cities studied Rosie to research smart delivery and the interaction between humans and robots. The first report in their research line has already been published, download it below!
Meet Rosie 2.0!
Are we willing to accept robots?
The research reflected three main conclusions. Firstly, even though people are willing to accept Automated Delivery Robots (ADR’s), they are still reluctant in using them. It also turned out that people’s acceptance of ADR technology increased when they saw it in action. Finally, the research showed that people are willing to pay less delivery costs when delivery distances are shorter.
Now that the pilot continues with Rosie 2.0, the students can do valuable follow-up research. Since the pandemic is over, they can now observe the impact of robot delivery on a lively and busy campus. They’ll also get a chance to explore if the looks of the delivery robot affect people’s perception of it. Moreover, they’ll gain more insights into what is needed to use delivery robots on public roads. This could contribute to greener and cleaner cities in the future. Rosie 2.0 will also be studied by students of the Kralingen Lyceum Rotterdam.
About the robot delivery pilot
Rosie 2.0 delivers groceries from campus store SPAR as part of a robot delivery pilot which runs from 16 March to 31 May 2023, possibly with an extension. The pilot is a collaboration between MRDH, EUR, SPAR University & Dutch Automated Mobility (DAM). The goal is to provide insight into the possible role of delivery robots in our daily lives, aligning with EUR's strategy to create social impact. Curious? Download the Spar University app and try it for free!
- More information
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