Just Eat Takeaway.com has partnered Swiss robotics company RIVR to trial the use of autonomous ground robots for food deliveries in Switzerland.
The pilot programme will begin in Zurich, with the RIVR robot tasked with delivering food from the local restaurant Zekis World.
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Just Eat Takeaway.com is the first on-demand delivery service in Europe to experiment with hybrid robotics that utilise physical AI.
The RIVR robot is designed to facilitate seamless deliveries, featuring wheels for smooth travel and legs for navigating obstacles such as stairs and kerbs.
It moves at 15km per hour, can adapt to changeable weather conditions and is fitted with lights and a flag for visibility in different lighting conditions.
With a storage capacity of 40L and an internal divider to prevent spillage, the robot is capable of managing larger orders.
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By GlobalDataThe delivery method resembles that of traditional courier services, employing a secure locking mechanism to ensure safe order transfer.
Customers will unlock the robot’s cargo compartment upon receiving notification of its arrival.
Deliveries will be monitored in real time from a control centre, and the robot is programmed to halt immediately in emergencies, either autonomously or through remote intervention.
RIVR CEO Marko Bjelonic stated: “Our collaboration with Just Eat Takeaway.com is a glimpse into a future where automation blends naturally into our cities, helping people get what they need, when they need it.
“Physical AI allows our robots to understand and adapt to the real world. It’s a step toward making autonomous delivery not only efficient, but intuitive, safe and truly human-centred.”
Following the initial trial, Just Eat Takeaway.com intends to expand the use of robotic delivery systems to additional cities in Europe in the second half of 2025, with potential applications in retail and convenience sectors.
This initiative in ground robotics delivery aligns with Just Eat Takeaway.com’s broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency, which includes a recently announced drone delivery service in Ireland, developed in collaboration with Manna.
In early August 2025, the European Commission granted approval to Naspers to acquire Just Eat Takeaway.com through its subsidiary, Prosus.
