Georgia-Based Chick-Fil-A Testing Delivery Service Robots In 3 States

GEORGIA — The next time you order food from Chick-Fil-A, it just might be a self-driving robot that brings it to you — depending on where you live.

The Georgia-based restaurant chain is currently taking part in a pilot program to determine if autonomous robots can safely and effectively deliver its food to consumers from the comfort of their home, job or wherever available.

“It’s always going to be about well-prepared, quality food,” John Featherston, Chick-fil-A's senior director of new ventures, said in a news release. “But where and how you consume your Chick-fil-A meal based on your daily needs is constantly changing. We want to learn how to extend our hospitality from our restaurants to meet you where you are.”

Chick-fil-A said it has partnered with Refraction AI, an autonomous robot delivery company, to deploy a fleet of its self-driving vehicles to provide energy-efficient meal deliveries at a limited number of restaurants in California, Texas and Florida.

"Autonomous delivery using Refraction's robots creates an exciting new opportunity to extend the Chick-fil-A experience to a growing number of delivery guests," Luke Steigmeyer, Operator of Chick-fil-A 6th & Congress, said. "The platform will allow us to provide fast, high quality, and cost-effective meal delivery within a mile radius of our restaurant all while helping to keep the community we serve environmentally clean and safe."

According to Refraction, its driverless robots travel in the margin of the road or in a bike lane — avoiding the speed, distance and regulatory constraints of being on the sidewalk, without incurring the safety, technology and cost challenges of full-size autonomous vehicles.

Using this approach, the company said it's able to complete last-mile deliveries with 90 percent lower carbon emissions, 80 percent less energy consumption, at a fraction of the cost of conventional delivery.

"We are thrilled about working with Chick-fil-A, an organization that is admired and respected as much for its commitment to the communities it serves, as it is for the innovation and quality of its business," said Schneider. "We are kindred spirits partnering with Chick-fil-A restaurants to demonstrate a smart, sensible approach to delivery that continues a tradition of surprising and delighting guests." Refraction CEO Luke Schneider said.

Insulated to keep food at the ideal temperature, these robots, which can travel up to 15 mph, have the ability to navigate themselves to the designated drop-off spot, keeping guests updated on their journey and estimated arrival time while they are on the move, Chick-fil-A said. Guests are alerted via text when the robot arrives, along with simple instructions for retrieving their meal.

Chick-fil-A did not say when it might roll out the robots to the rest of the country if the pilot program proves successful.