Serve Robotics all apologies as delivery robot rolls through crime scene
A Serve Robotics delivery robot has failed to reroute around a police barrier due to human error.
Video of the robot crossing yellow caution tape and rolling through a crime scene in Los Angeles went viral last week.
In a statement posted on Twitter, Serve Robotics said: “While robots are capable of operating autonomously in most circumstances, they're assigned to human supervisors to ensure their safe operation, for instance when navigating a blockage.”
“We respect the important work of law enforcement and are taking steps to ensure our operating procedures are followed in the future.”
Funding round
Late last year, Serve Robotics closed a $13 million seed funding round, with participation from Uber Technologies, Delivery Hero backed DX Ventures, 7-Eleven’s corporate venture arm, 7-Ventures, and Wavemaker Partners’ food automation focused venture studio Wavemaker Labs.
This extended its previous seed funding and also involved existing investors Neo, Western Technology Investment, and Scott Banister, among others.
The capital is being used to accelerate the company’s path to commercial scale, driving its fleet expansion, geographic growth, and product development.
“Serve Robotics has brought self-driving delivery to major US cities and is leading the field of robotics with its cutting-edge autonomous technology,” said Brendon Blacker, Partner at DX Ventures.
“This game changing technology has the potential to reshape the future of delivery and we are investing in Ali’s (Kashani, Co-founder and CEO) vision and the world class team he has assembled.”
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