Serve Robotics has announced an expansion of its delivery operations into Koreatown, Los Angeles. This move is part of the company’s strategic plan to increase its geographical presence in Los Angeles and other parts of the United States. Serve Robotics also announced an extended supply agreement with Ouster to equip 2,000 robots with upgraded lidar hardware as part of its preparations for fleet scaling.
According to Dr. Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics, many households in Los Angeles have already experienced autonomous delivery through the company’s partnership with Uber Eats. Serve began integrating local merchants in June, and now Koreatown residents using Uber Eats can have their orders delivered by Serve’s robots. Koreatown was chosen for its commercial activity, growing residential population, and infrastructure supportive of robotic delivery. This expansion was facilitated by ongoing cooperation with Los Angeles city officials and local stakeholders.
The expanded agreement with Ouster involves equipping Serve’s robots with Ouster’s new REV7 lidar sensors, which are expected to enhance the robots’ performance. These sensors are crucial for the robots’ ability to perceive their environment, determine their precise location, and navigate safely alongside pedestrians. Serve Robotics anticipates improvements in safety, speed, and cost-effectiveness from these new sensors. Euan Abraham, Chief Hardware and Manufacturing Officer at Serve Robotics, highlighted the reliability and performance of Ouster’s lidar technology as instrumental to the company’s success in commercializing Level 4 autonomy at scale.
