Successful commissioning at Dubai Silicon

Delivery robots join Dubai's smart mobility ecosystem

  • The review of the operating output is aimed only at improving the operation service. From the source

  • Khalid Al-Awadhi: "Choosing a specific area for operation requires its suitability for this type of activities, and for the use of this type of means."

image

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed the success of the pilot operation of robots in providing food delivery services in the Dubai Silicon Oasis area, which began in mid-January this year, stressing that global studies and experiences in this field indicate that robots will acquire at least 20% of the fleet of smart mobility used in the service and goods delivery sector, by 2030.

Khalid Al Awadhi, Director of the Public Transport Systems Department at the Authority, told Emirates Today that the Authority will review the outputs of the experiment and discuss with its partners in the project, all observations related to improving service provision by the end of the first three months, stressing that all delivery and transport operations using the robot went as expected.

He stated that in mid-January, DEWA, in cooperation with the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DAISE) and Talabat UAE, began the trial operation of self-driving Talabout delivery robots in Dubai Silicon Oasis, to encourage the use of zero-emission means of transportation and improve operational efficiency, based on Dubai's endeavor to convert 25% of transportation trips to self-driving means by 2030.

He stressed that global studies and reports indicate that "robots may replace bicycles and drivers in the fleet of transportation used in delivery by between 20 and 30 percent by 2030."

He pointed out that the robots currently serve the "Sidr Villas" project in Dubai Silicon Oasis, where they are used to transport orders up to three kilometers, to deliver orders in no more than 15 minutes.

Regarding the standards applied to ensure the smooth and safe use of robots in moving within residential areas, Al-Awadhi pointed to the preparation of what is known as the "Operating Safety Manual", which is prepared as a reference bag that includes the most important conditions and guidelines according to the type of activity and the area of operation, noting that all this is done in stages prior to the trial operation process, which is considered an actual operation of the service, but it is called "experimental" because it is subject to re-evaluation and further improvements are proposed in light of the actual operation.

He added that the choice of a specific area for operation requires that it be suitable for this type of activities, and for the use of this type of means, such as the presence of signals, road signs and paths next to the street that allow robots to move in it, because the robots move on appropriate sidewalks in which they share with pedestrians and scooter drivers, and cut the road with them in the pedestrian crossing area. He added that the authority leaves the private sector free to participate in providing self-transport services, pointing out that the axes of the guide change according to the type of activity and region, but there are fixed and common standards in all regions, such as the speed of the vehicle «robot», which should not exceed five kilometers.

No service fees

Khalid Al Awadhi stressed that the RTA does not currently impose any fees on the private sector participating in providing the delivery service using robots, to encourage work on innovation projects, encourage environmentally friendly activities and support the aspirations of the delivery sector, pointing out that the role of the authority is to determine the standards and develop the legislation required for operation, which varies according to the type of vehicle.

He stressed that the authority exceeded the process of testing the vehicle and approved its operation according to its compliance with about 20 main standards, adding that the review of operating outputs aims only to improve the operating service and see the observations of operators, if they have any demands or modifications, and to ensure that the first phase of operation passed without safety obstacles.