US self-driving startup Nuro is using its autonomous supply robots to provide contactless delivery of goods to facilities battling coronavirus in California.
Prior to holding conversations with federal, state, and local organisations to volunteer its service, the company said it realised it could potentially use its R2 unmanned vehicles to provide contactless delivery of goods, removing possible interactions between a driver dropping off goods and a person picking them up.
In Sacramento, R2 vehicles are delivering medical supplies to the Sleep Train Arena, a former NBA arena converted into an alternative care facility housing up to 400 Covid-19 patients.
In San Mateo County, Nuro has deployed R2 vehicles at the converted Events Center, now a multi-purpose facility (comprising testing facilities, alternative housing site, and field hospital) to transport food, water, and other supplies on an as-needed basis.
“Through providing a contactless delivery solution with R2 in Sacramento and in San Mateo, we can help ensure healthcare workers have the supplies they need at hand, saving them time while also helping foster the safety and health of both patients and staff,” said Nuro co-founder Dave Ferguson.
“And by reducing the time and overall contact needed for front line workers and patients to get food, medicine, and other essentials, we hope that we can do our small part to help slow the spread of the virus.”
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