While venture capitalists salivate over sentient transport trucks and robot SUVs that can safely navigate a Boston blizzard, some of the smartest self-driving engineers are making progress flipping chicken sandwiches. But progress is progress. Kiwibot, a five-year-old startup, unveiled a Star Wars-esque droid that looks like a cooler on wheels. With fast-food and sidewalk retail, Nuro, Kiwibot and their rivals are out there getting their repetitions – real-world reps, rather than the simulations self-driving car startups have come to rely on. “She basically said, ‘I saw your robot on the street, and it’s really ugly,” Varela recalls.

Source: The Star April 19, 2021 01:30 UTC