Singapore’s OTSAW is sending robots for on-demand food and grocery deliveries

With contactless home deliveries becoming a norm in this COVID-era, Singapore’s tech-startup OTSAW has deployed a pair of robots to meet the demand. The robots deliver groceries and parcels to the residents of one part of the city-state.

OTSAW has named both the robots as “Camello” and presently the robot deliveries are being offered to 700 households in the Punggol area. The users can book delivery slots for groceries and the app notifies them when the robot is about to reach the pick-up point which is usually the apartment lobby.

Both the robots are equipped with a camera, 3D sensors, and two compartments to carry up to 44lb of groceries or parcel ordered online. The robots can make 4-5 deliveries per day on the weekdays and Saturday deliveries are available only for half-day. The robots provide a QR code for the users to scan at the collection point through their mobile phones. This ensures that the authorized person is only able to access the assigned compartment and its contents. Ultraviolet light is used by the robots to disinfect themselves after each trip.

With autonomous robots hitting Singapore’s street under this one-year pilot the government hopes that the trial will lead to large-scale deployment of such robots to offer consumers more flexible home delivery services.

Along with OTSAW, the one year pilot is led by IMDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority) in collaboration with HDB (Housing & Development Board), LTA (Land Transport Authority), URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority), CM Logistics, logistics service provider, and NTUC Fair Price, the supermarket Chain. OTSAW is using AI for autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance and detection.

COVID-19 pandemic has been a triggering point for the launch of robots

In April 2020, the technology innovator launched a multi-purpose security and concierge robot that could facilitate contact tracing and check temperatures during the pandemic. The company also launched O-RX, a disinfection robot. It is the first company in the world to use UV- C LED technology in the robots as a tool to fight the spread of coronavirus.

According to the company, O-RX is 70 percent more energy-efficient as compared to conventional disinfection robots. OR-X has achieved 99.9 percent disinfection efficacy at a range of 2.5 meters within five minutes.

The startup adopts RaaS (Robots-as-a-Service) model which allows the users to use the robots by paying a monthly subscription over a contract period which includes maintenance and software support from the company.

With these autonomous robots, consumers will get faster deliveries at their convenience as instead of sticking to a fixed delivery schedule they can choose when they want the items to be delivered. Consumers also have an option to buy groceries at the supermarket and drop off the purchases at a concierge counter and continue their dining or shopping and then can have it delivered at their HDB block at a chosen time.

About OTSAW

Founded in 2015, OTSAW is a global pioneer in advanced robotics technologies and next-generation AI for security delivery & mobility applications, business processes, healthcare, and everyday lives.