Delivery Robots are now roaming in Trafford!

Starship delivery robots have been introduced for the first time in Trafford.

Two Coop foodstores both in Sale and some in Timperley have the delivery robots operation as from today 15 March 2023, and we have been out to see how they work.

A staff member uses a mobile phone to open the lid of the very heavy robots, puts in a bag of food and the lid shuts and off it goes, on our visit we followed for a small time to see how it would do crossing the very busy roads and how they avoid people.

The delivery robot was waiting for a while before crossing Coppice Avenue in Sale towards Sam Brooks on Manor Avenue, drivers were not sure what to do, this of course will probably be the first time they have seen anything like this in Trafford.

Once it decided it was safe enough to continue it got to a very dangerous crossing just before a roundabout at Cherry Lane, it stayed waiting for what seemed a life time, motorists also waited before deciding to continue with one getting a bit upset with the robot, maybe a new name for road rage will come about as ‘robot rage’.

Another robot came along side and noticed how silent it was which will not be good for those with hearing issues.

Although only the first time of seeing them in Trafford it might actually work here once motorists can adjust to them which will happen in time, the robots will not bump into anyone even cyclists, however we see a danger to those with hearing and sight issues, for disabled people and those on Motobility scooters.

Due to the many motorists going through red lights in Trafford more so where the scooters are being deployed time will tell if one of these robots causes a worse situation.

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services, said: “We are excited to be working with the Co-op and Starship Technologies to launch this new initiative in the Sale area. The robots are a lot of fun and it will be great to see them taking to the streets of the borough.

“But there is a more serious message here – Trafford Council is totally committed to helping the environment and reducing our carbon emissions and the electric robots could well contribute towards those aims.  So, instead of driving to the Co-ops involved in the scheme, why not leave the car at home and have your groceries delivered by a friendly robot?”