RE: Domino's and Ford trialling driverless deliveries!
Wednesday 30th August 2017
You will have to excuse a degree of self-interest in this news story because, as a former Domino's delivery driver, the announcement of driverless delivery trials is quite significant. See there's quite a lot to be learnt about driving late at night on the weekend, or in snowy car parks, or on quiet dual carriageways. And the free pizza is always welcome...
Why do Domino's not look like this in the UK?Anyway, the story here is that Ford and Domino's are collaborating in the US on trials to deliver pizza without a scrawny young lad in a hat actually bringing it to you. Using a hybrid Ford Fusion Autonomous Research Vehicle, Domino's in Ann Arbor, Michigan will deliver pizzas to customers without a staff member driving. That's not to say the car won't have people in - the car will be "manually-driven by a Ford safety engineer and staffed with researchers" - but a Domino's team member won't be there desperately seeking a tip.
Must be Two for Tuesday to look this happyWith Ford planning to produce self-driving cars from 2021, these trials are an important part of the development. Its vice-pres of Autonomous and Electric Vehicles, Sherif Marakby, said: "As a company focused on the customer experience, Domino's shares our vision for a future enabled by smart vehicles in a smart environment that enhance people's lives." And from Domino's, its president and CEO Patrick Doyle added: "We pride ourselves on being technology leaders and are excited to help lead research into how self-driving vehicles may play a role in the future of pizza delivery."
Domino's and Ford trialling driverless deliveries!
A Double Decadence delivered driverlessly? It's going to happen...
Why do Domino's not look like this in the UK?
The customers will be randomly selected (and must agree also), and can then track the delivery through the Domino's Tracker app. As for actually retrieving the Pepperoni Passion (because that is the best pizza, on a thin base), customers will be text a code that unlocks the 'Domino's Heatwave Compartment' inside the car. Probably more sanitary than the old Heatwave bags...
Must be Two for Tuesday to look this happy
Arguably at this stage the research raises more questions than it answers - what if the delivery is wrong, what if they've forgotten something, what if the car can't find you, that sort of thing - but perhaps our perspective is more cynical given the insider knowledge. How would you feel about autonomous takeaway delivery? Are you usually that hungry that you wouldn't give a damn? Will this make Domino's even more expensive? The floor is yours...
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Discussion
SantaBarbara said:
How do they prevent the car being stolen?
Article said:
"That's not to say the car won't have people in - the car will be "manually-driven by a Ford safety engineer and staffed with researchers" - but a Domino's team member won't be there desperately seeking a tip."
Ryvita said:
If their going to automate the process that much, why wouldn't you just install the pizza oven into the car so that it cooks in transit? Could shave minutes off the delivery time! 
There's somewhere that does exactly that. Whole row of ovens in the back of a small truck. California iirc but can't remember the name.But part of the delivery service is having the pizza brought to your door.
With this plan customers would have to come out to the car to get it - hardly a great improvement to the customer experience if block of flats / crappy weather / lazy / naked
With this plan customers would have to come out to the car to get it - hardly a great improvement to the customer experience if block of flats / crappy weather / lazy / naked
Edited by option click on Wednesday 30th August 12:34
option click said:
But part of the delivery service is having the pizza brought to your door.
With this plan customers would have to come out to the car to get it - hardly a great improvement to the customer experience if block of flats / crappy weather / lazy / naked
depends if you live in an apartment or not, they *never* come to your door here in ManchesterWith this plan customers would have to come out to the car to get it - hardly a great improvement to the customer experience if block of flats / crappy weather / lazy / naked
Edited by option click on Wednesday 30th August 12:34
malucnojes said:
Surely the way forward will be drown deliveries? Probably quicker and no need for the car at all!
Domino's, Just Eat, Ocada, Amazon and others are all trialing autonomous cars, vans, trucks, drones, and robots.Nobody is sure yet which delivery method is the cheapest, fastest, securest or safest, so everyone is experimenting right now to work out the best way.
Pizza boys have about ~10 good years left and then the computers take over.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/07/05/d...
How we will look back and laugh at this in years to come when we have energy/matter/energy transmutation and "replicators" in every home. Then they'll charge for the "recipe" (at an atomic level) and all you have to do us shout "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot!" at a device standing in the corner.
could be the 9th of September but more likely the 23 of September 
This seems like free food to me. Two people needed one walks in front of car on route which then stops (one hopes!) then second person opens door takes food all because the car can't do anything but drive (if they ever get that far) unless its electrified or has guns or will self destruct. I'm fairly sure there are bigger issues to solve than pizza delivery.. come on Ford!
brushwood69 said:
This seems like free food to me. Two people needed one walks in front of car on route which then stops (one hopes!) then second person opens door takes food all because the car can't do anything but drive
You need to enter a code to release the pizza.The car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
technodup said:
ou need to enter a code to release the pizza.
The car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
Like I said free food unless they have loads of secure storage for each individual delivery etc this system is as flawed as it getsThe car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
brushwood69 said:
technodup said:
ou need to enter a code to release the pizza.
The car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
Like I said free food unless they have loads of secure storage for each individual delivery etc this system is as flawed as it getsThe car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
brushwood69 said:
technodup said:
ou need to enter a code to release the pizza.
The car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
Like I said free food unless they have loads of secure storage for each individual delivery etc this system is as flawed as it getsThe car drives itself ffs, do you think the pizzas are just there on the front seat for anyone to grab?
Something similar to what Amazon have at petrol stations all over the place?
It might be flawed. It might be that people won't walk to the car. But it won't fail because people steal the food.
I find it utterly amazing that all these people who work in service industry type jobs are excited to show new technology etc not just a driverless pizza delivery, think about for example when you go in the bank and must now use a machine instead of a counter with a teller / assistant behind. All these people will no doubt eventually be replaced by a machine helping dominos/HSBC to get richer whilst the employees will be out of a job bringing the country to its knees with rising unemployment! Food for thought, well pizza at least.....
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