US-based hamburger chain White Castle has partnered Coco Robotics, an urban robot delivery platform, to venture into autonomous deliveries through Uber Eats, beginning in Chicago.
Coco Robotics claims that the integration of its zero-emission delivery robots with the Uber Eats platform will streamline order fulfilment, alleviate parking lot congestion and expedite food delivery without sacrificing quality or convenience.
Coco's AI-powered robots, which have been operational in Chicago since 2024, are designed for the challenges of dense urban environments.
They have completed more than half a million zero-emission deliveries in cities such as Los Angeles, Miami and Helsinki, even in adverse winter conditions.
Checkmate, a key technology partner in this initiative, will be responsible for ensuring real-time synchronisation between White Castle's menu, Uber Eats and the in-store point-of-sale systems for a smooth order process and fulfilment.
White Castle operations vice president Chris Shaffery stated: "This partnership is about driving smarter operations where it matters most.
"By testing Coco's robots at a high-traffic location, we're seeking to ease congestion, speed up service, and allow our team to stay focused on quality - helping us serve more customers, more efficiently."
With the addition of autonomous delivery through Uber's ecosystem, Checkmate provides restaurants with real-time updates on delivery status, enhancing their ability to stay informed and responsive.
Customers will be matched with a Coco robot through the Uber Eats app, and upon the robot's arrival, can unlock the container and retrieve their order.
Coco Robotics chief commercial officer Melissa Fahs stated: "Coco is already completing hundreds of thousands of orders, proving that autonomous food delivery is scaling rapidly.
"By expanding our footprint through partners like Uber Eats, we've unlocked opportunities with national brands such as White Castle - bringing autonomous delivery to a quick-service staple that's embracing technology to keep up with demand in high-traffic locations."
