Domino's And Ford Are Testing Self-Driving Pizza Delivery Vehicles
If you live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, listen up: Domino's is testing new self-driving Ford vehicles to deliver your pizza. Over the next several weeks, select customers will receive delicious pies from a "Ford Fusion Autonomous Research Vehicle" closely monitored by researchers and a Ford safety engineer, according to a statement.
The delivery boy-less car can be tracked through GPS on an upgraded version of Domino's Tracker. When it pulls into your driveway or up to the curb, you must emerge from your home and punch in a code —the last four digits of the phone number used to place the order — to unlock the vehicle's heat-wave compartment where your pizza awaits.
"We're interested to learn what people think about this type of delivery," said Russell Weiner, Domino's U.S. president. "The majority of our questions are about the last 50 feet of the delivery experience. For instance, how will customers react to coming outside to get their food?"
As always, the internet is divided on the subject. Georgia Sugarbaker is clearly stoked, saying, "Very cool!!! Wow! It's like something from The Jetsons." On the other hand, Ryan Tucker is not. He writes, "Get rid of more jobs, great idea" followed by an emoji rolling its eyes.
Twitter user @ImaPaleEgg is excited to save money. He writes, "I'm down for this. No more tipping drivers. As long as it's safe for kids in busy neighborhoods, let's get it."
If all goes swimmingly, Ford plans to begin large-scale production of self-driving vehicles in 2021. It's quite possible that more of America's 35 favorite pizza chains could follow Domino's lead.