H-E-B Tests Friendly-Faced Delivery Robots in Austin Pilot Program

Like almost everyone does from time to time, Chabeli Sanchez realized Wednesday morning she was missing ingredients to make lunch and dinner later that day.

But Sanchez, who lives at AMLI Branch Park in Austin’s Mueller neighborhood, has several dogs at home and didn’t want to leave them alone or take them out to run to the grocery store.

Thanks to H-E-B’s newest pilot program, she didn’t have to.

Launched in May but officially rolled out and promoted this month, the Texas grocery giant is testing small, friendly-faced autonomous delivery robots out of its Mueller storefront.

The bots on wheels, adorned with triangular eyes that transform to play pong or give heart-eyes to passersby, will deliver up to 10 items within a one mile radius of the store. Ten items may not seem like a lot, but H-E-B says the robots have enough space to hold six 16.5 inch pizzas and five 1.5 liter bottles.

"I love to cook every single day, so sometimes I forget something or I kind of get lazy," Sanchez said. "This has been the best thing ever. It really helps me out when I have the dogs, and I can’t really take them with me to H-E-B."

The robots, created by Austin-based autonomous vehicles startup Avride, have insulated compartments that can be divided for separate hot, fresh, cold or frozen items. The pilot program is available only in the Mueller neighborhood from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

H-E-B declined to comment about the test but posted on Instagram a few weeks ago about the robot’s "cute and friendly" appearance. "Finally, a delivery service that won’t judge for ordering ice cream in the winter," it said.

The bots are part of the San Antonio retailer’s "H-E-B Now" delivery service alongside Favor. Launched in August, shoppers using the service can get 15 items or less delivered in under 45 minutes.

Avride’s delivery robots are not brand new to Austin or the Mueller neighborhood. The startup had 10 robots roaming Mueller delivering food for restaurants last year. Some of its robots work with Uber Eats to deliver food to addresses downtown, between Cesar Chavez and 15th streets and I-35 and West Avenue, KXAN reported last year.

The robots move from 3 mph to 5 mph and, like other autonomous vehicles such as those operated by Waymo, they rely on LiDAR and camera sensors to navigate traffic and sidewalks. According to Avride, its robots can operate in rain and snow.

H-E-B hasn’t announced plans to make the program more than a pilot at the Mueller location or other stores, but this isn’t the first time it has turned to new autonomous technology.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, H-E-B partnered with Swisslog, a Swiss automation company specializing in logistics and warehouses, to set up automated micro-fulfillment centers. The centers, which help manage curbside pickup and delivery orders, used robots to take bins to stations so employees could prepare orders for shoppers.

Sanchez said she’s used the new delivery robots a couple of times and has seen the Mueller neighborhood embracing the new technology. To her, the robots have been quicker and more accurate than other food delivery platforms that rely on human drivers, like Uber Eats or DoorDash, because the robots so far don’t get lost.

She said her neighbors also have been embracing the robots roaming Mueller’s sidewalks.

"It’s been super convenient to have it, and I like how the community has been responding to it," Sanchez said. "I know it’s a little weird to have robots running around, but since it’s helped so many families, especially stay-at-home moms, I think it’s absolutely great."