Domino's Unleashes Pizza-Delivery-Robot As 2 Out Of 3 Americans Expect Jobs To Be Automated
The automation of the global workplace is spreading and, as Pew recently found, 65% of Americans now believe their job will inevitably be done by robots.
In a low-growth world, every low-skill job is up for grabs by the robot/drone horde as the need to cut costs is core business for every CFO (aside from share buybacks) as minimum wage mandates have forced these cost-cutting CFOs to look for alternatives.
Three months ago we warned that it was not just fast-food order-takers and burger-makers that were at risk (a truly terrifying thought for those left in the US economy who are not bartenders or waitresses).
And while McDonalds (MCD) has already made the move into automation...
The latest 'fast food' outlet to snub humans (and their annoying demands and unreliability) is Domino's Pizza (DPZ) which just unveiled it robot-pizza-delivery plans...
Pizza delivered by a robot? It may seem out of this world, but for one pizza company, the idea may be closer to reality than ever.
Meet ‘DRU,’ Domino’s first-ever automated pizza delivery bot that brings your pizza order directly to your door.
Domino’s unveiled DRU (short for Domino’s Robotic Unit) in several countries across the globe earlier this week, including Australia, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, German, Japan and New Zealand.
The project is a collaborative effort from Domino’s and Australia-based robotic company Marathon Targets, which created the first autonomous robotics for the Australian defense force in the late 2000s.
As Forbes reports, DRU is reportedly fully autonomous, and sports a water-tight, weather-proof acrylic plastic exterior and aluminum and mild steel interior for keeping orders at their best. Like today’s self-driving cars, it uses LIDAR laser-light sensory technology to detect and navigate around obstacles along its journey, and also has a back-up system of traditional sensors (such as you’d find on home cleaning-bots) to ensure it reaches its destination safely.
So far, DRU has been tested on approved pathways and roads Down Under–the same territory, incidentally, in which McDonald’s first began testing its own delivery model–and its size, speed, and autonomous navigation mean it won’t be hitting regular streets or highways soon. If the makers of DRU and its autonomous delivery-brethren keep tweaking their tech while pushing to meet food and road safety guidelines, however, the little bot’s Google Maps- and GPS-powered guidance system might soon be delivering it to neighborhoods worldwide before too long.
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This article really puts in perspective that a $15/hour #MinimumWage is not feasible especially when automation and the costs associated with it are going down as we speak. $DPZ
That's a good point, Mo. As the alternative to automation becomes increasingly cost prohibitive, replacing workers with machines become a more attractive alternative. But Gary is right that it will also increase unemployment. Good for big business. Bad for all of us.
That is also a good point. But, it is an unfortunate reality and it is why we should all strive to learn and increase our human capital as much as possible. That would allow for us to stay ahead of advancements like automation. $DPZ
When the customers dry up, they will be reminded that they should have listened to Henry Ford.
And what did Henry #Ford say?
Actually it is what he did. He paid his workers well and they helped buy the cars that made Ford a success. Of course, automation is at work now, which is why there are so many subprime auto loans instead of more sound auto loans based on good wages.
Interesting, thanks for responding @[Gary Anderson](user:4798).
Atuomated technology in the food industry can be a really exciting thing and definitely will attract more customers, at least in the short-term. Do you think eventually there will be no employees at fast foods because of this technology? $DPZ #dominoes
According to @[Tyler Durden](user:4802)'s article, $MCD and $DPZ are already doing it. #Domino's robot delivery men remind me of #Amazon's idea of using delivery drones.
I don't know that we'll ever get rid of humans entirely, but we're already headed in that direction with things like being able to order and pay for your food in advance right from your smart phone. I just did that at #Dunkin over the weekend. So why not? $DNKN $DPZ
Good point @[Ayelet Wolf](user:10327). @[Gary Anderson](user:4798), when you go to #DunkinDonuts, you think humans are making your donuts? $DNKN $DPZ #dunkin
Lol, Carl. I like #Dunkin Donut coffee. Not a big fan of their donuts. Maybe they should make them by hand. These donut shops in Las Vegas are so far superior to Dunkin Donuts $DNKN that it is almost embarrassing: www.reviewjournal.com/.../7-doughnut-shops-check-out-around-town
Interesting idea - like Back to the Future II.
What is exiting about shrinking the GDP with automated technology? Too bad techies don't understand more about economics. Many people will gravitate to people, not technology. I don't want a robot preparing and serving my food.
I agree human interaction is key and we're losing that more and more. If eating out becomes as frustrating as trying to use the self-checkout kiosk at the supermarket, you can count me out.
I agree that the human interaction is an integral part of the dining experience, but further technical integration is inevitable. And it can help bring down the cost of eating out. Why would technology shrink the #GDP? Can you please elaborate?
We already experiencing slow growth and a massive unemployment of folks who have quit looking for #jobs. While EGDP is not declining, millennials stand to make less money than previous generations and ultimately GDP as reflected on main street will continue to suffer. There is no guarantee that the cost of eating out will be brought down by automation. Food costs are the main cost of doing business.
If you have self driving cars, electric cars, automated food service, and the like, labor participation rates will drop even more. Here is a Fred Chart showing just that. Of course the participation rate went up when two people had to work to make it. But now, we are declining even while that economic reality is even more acute: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CIVPART
All good points, though I had always assume automation would open up a new wave of jobs in other related areas. Such as tech support, sales, an robotic repair. Of course those jobs need far more education than flipping or serving burgers.
Personally, I'd rather have a robot preparing my food. It would be far more sanitary. Have you ever worked inside a restaurant's kitchen area? Yuck! $DPZ
Well I was merely interested in the idea of having some technology at restaurants. Not all. I don't think that makes me a "techie". Of course decreasing jobs and the GDP is highly unfavorable.