New Zealand is Getting An Amazing New Pizza Invention

Domino's says it's working with the Government on a plan to permit robot pizza delivery to hungry New Zealanders.

The government and Domino's Pizza are working to explore and test driverless pizza delivery options with a four-wheeled unit named DRU (Domino's Robotic Unit).

Minister of Transport Simon Bridges said the use of the robot is an exciting opportunity for New Zealand, which is one of the first countries in the world being considered for testing autonomous pizza delivery.

"DRU is an early prototype, but the fact that New Zealand is being considered as a test site shows we have the right settings to attract innovation."

 
Photo: Marathon Robotics

The autonomous pizza delivery unit was designed by Domino's and Australian start-up Marathon Robotics.

DRU, which could spell the beginning of the end of the pizza delivery boy, has a sensory system that uses lasers to move around obstacles in its path to travel unassisted to a customer's address.

The robotic unit travels up to speeds of 20km/h and is designed to cruise on footpaths, trails and bike paths. When it reaches its destination, the customer enters a security code in their phone to tell the robot to open its locked storage compartment and deliver the pizza.

Domino's says it all began in 2015 with a microchip and a big idea and finished with months of testing.

Officials from the New Zealand Transport Agency are also collaborating on the testing.

Read the full story at nzherald.co.nz