Coco Robots Deliver Food as Part of Pilot Program in Chicago

With a Single Steak Quesadilla in Its Belly, Coco Begins the Journey South

With a single steak quesadilla in its belly, “Coco” begins the journey south, rolling smoothly along a River West sidewalk.

Just a few seconds into the mid-December trip, it encounters a problem — a U.S. Postal truck blocks the intersection it wishes to cross.

Coco doesn’t squawk or otherwise protest; it halts and waits, its blue lights gently pulsing for the next five minutes or so. When the truck moves on, so does Coco — a food delivery robot that looks like a beer cooler on wheels. Or if it’s snowing — as it was Tuesday — the robot rumbles along sidewalks yet to be cleared, its tires crusted in snow while an attached flag flutters in the harsh wind.

A Pilot Program in the 27th and 34th Wards

In early December, 20 or so of the flamingo-pink robots could be found rolling along city sidewalks as part of a pilot program in the 27th Ward (a ward that includes Fulton Market, the West Loop and River West, among other neighborhoods) and the 34th Ward (parts of the Loop, South Loop, Greektown, the West Loop and Little Italy all fall within its boundaries). Coco currently delivers across “most of both wards,” according to the company, adding that the robots are available to any restaurant in those delivery areas.

How It Works

Customers typically order using the food delivery app DoorDash. In offering robot delivery, the app factors in such things as driver availability and delivery distance, according to the robotics company. When the robot arrives, the customer presses a button on the delivery app to open the robot’s cargo hold.

Winter Weather, No Problem

But what about winters in Chicago? While it snowed Tuesday morning during a demo of the robot’s winter prowess, it was only a dusting.

“We are confident we’ll be able to handle the snow,” said Zach Rash, the 27-year-old founder of the Los Angeles-based company, pointing out that the company also operates on a limited basis in Finland’s capital, Helsinki.

A Profitable Service

Robot delivery charges are comparable in price to driver delivery charges, but less when you factor in the tip, which robots don’t accept, according to Coco. The robot delivery program at UIC ended in May 2024, some 2 1/2 years after it began, when the college changed food service vendors.

Conclusion

Coco robots are a good option in winter because they’re all-wheel drive and there aren’t always enough human drivers available, said Rash. The company plans to make the service available to everyone in Chicago over time.

FAQs

Q: How does the robot navigate through snow?

A: The robot is all-wheel drive and has sensors to help it navigate through snow.

Q: How does the robot handle busy intersections?

A: The robot has onboard cameras and sensors to help it navigate through busy intersections.

Q: Can I order from any restaurant using the robot delivery service?

A: Yes, the robot delivery service is available to any restaurant in the pilot program areas.

Q: Is the robot delivery service profitable?

A: Yes, the robot delivery service is profitable, according to the company.

Q: How does the robot handle tips?

A: The robot does not accept tips, as it is a machine.