Peachtree Corners, Georgia, partnered with startup Pipedream to build the world’s first below-ground autonomous robot delivery system, enabling engineers at tech innovator Curiosity Lab to order take-out and fast underground delivery from nearby Wendy’s, Taco Bell and Arby’s.
The underground system is nearly 1 mile long, with robots (looking more like model trains) reaching speeds of 55 mph as they traverse tracks inside an 18-inch diameter pipe . Aside from the unusual technology, the project provides a showcase of government innovation to implement smart city tech to improve people’s lives, said Brandon Branham, assistant city manager and CTO.
“Pipedream is showcasing the future of logistics technology that will not only bring added convenience to our residents and businesses but also reduce traffic, noise and emissions from delivery vehicles on our roads,” Branham said in a statement on Thursday.
Reporters were able to view construction of the tunnel system in April, which required crews to lay pipe and access points on rights of way within the city of 45,000 residents and 45,000 workers . Peachtree Corners, about 20 miles from downtown Atlanta, and Curiosity Lab have been operating for years with the full blessing of town officials as various startups create new tech and the city builds a smart roadway system with information kiosks and cameras to help reduce pedestrian accidents. The city has autonomous shuttles and a roadway with cellular vehicle-to-everything connectivity.
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The installation of the underground delivery system proves that underground delivery is “not only possible today but easy to retrofit,” said Garrett McCurrach, Pipedream CEO. He said Pipedream, founded in 2021, plans to bring the concept to many more cities over the next two years.
Pipedream’s system is based on autonomous electric-powered robots that carry totes where food is transported. A portal installed above ground is temperature controlled to allow food delivery. (Two portals have been installed in Peachtree Corners.) Underground, the company typically uses off-the-shelf pipe as the conduit for the rail network. Junctions are designed to allow robots to turn up to 90 degrees.
The company's web site says delivery in Peachtree Corners includes five 90-degree turns with a 15 mph average speed that allows deliveries in less than 5 minutes. Each delivery charge is listed at $1.
The US is expected to have 40% of its traffic devoted to delivery by 2030 and Pipedream says it hopes to bring that traffic underground.
Pipedream posted a short video of the trip through Peachtree Corners, ending up inside Curiosity Lab.