Delivery Robots

Buying advice

Shortlist by the route, then by price

Robots on this page are built for very different places, so they rarely compete for the same contract. Walk your intended route first and note kerbs, ramps, thresholds, lifts and the busiest hour, then drop any robot whose maker cannot show it coping with those features. As of October 2026, a buyer could spend as little as about $25,000 on the Kiwibot 4.0 or as much as about $55,000 on the Starship Delivery Robot, and two more needed a quote. For that quote-only pair, Aethon TUG and Robomart, ask for a written scope that lists what the price covers, from mapping and installation to staff training.

Ask for test results on your floors

Demo routes tend to be smooth and quiet. ISO 18646-1:2016 sets out test methods for how wheeled service robots move indoors, and ISO 18646-3:2021 includes tests for opening hinged and sliding doors, so ask each maker which of these tests its robot has been through and request the results. Where a robot cannot open doors by itself, budget for automatic door openers and lift integration, which often need the building's own contractors. Then run a supervised trial on your real surfaces, including carpet edges, wet floors and loading bays, and count how often staff have to step in.

Decide who runs the safety system

ISO 31101:2023 sets requirements for a safety management system in organisations that provide services with robots in spaces where untrained people are present, and it names hospital deliveries among its examples. If you buy and run a fleet, that role falls to you; if you pay for delivery as a service, ask the provider to show how it meets the standard. Either way, cost the work around the robot: someone to clear blockages and recover stalled units, cleaning of food compartments, cover against theft or damage, mobile data plans and charging space. Ask each maker what a support visit costs once the warranty ends.

What to look for

• Where it operates: pavements, campuses, hotel corridors or hospital wards
• Payload volume, temperature control and how customers unlock their order
• Local permits, and whether you run the fleet yourself or use a service

Common questions

Can delivery robots operate anywhere?

No. Pavement, road and drone delivery are each regulated differently, and permissions vary by city and country. Check local rules for the routes you have in mind.

Which delivery robots suit restaurants and hotels?

Pavement robots typically suit short-range restaurant and campus delivery. Larger autonomous vehicles suit grocery and retail rounds across a wider area.

Sources and further reading

• ISO 18646-1:2016 Robotics — Performance criteria and related test methods for service robots — Part 1: Locomotion for wheeled robots — International Organization for Standardization.
  Test methods for how wheeled service robots move indoors, a basis for checking makers' claims on your own floors.
• ISO 18646-3:2021 Robotics — Performance criteria and related test methods for service robots — Part 3: Manipulation — International Organization for Standardization.
  Test methods for service robot manipulation, including opening hinged and sliding doors on a delivery route.
• ISO 31101:2023 Robotics — Application services provided by service robots — Safety management systems requirements — International Organization for Standardization.
  Requirements for organisations that run robots in public-facing services, from airport guidance to hospital deliveries.