DoorDash launches proprietary delivery robot
DoorDash is expanding its autonomous delivery efforts from partnerships with tech providers to an in-house-developed robot.
The global on-demand delivery platform is launching "Dot," an autonomous robot built to travel on bike lanes, roads, sidewalks and driveways that is specifically designed for local delivery.
At one-tenth the size of an average car, Dot can reach speeds of up to 20 mph with an all-electric design and can use artificial intelligence to optimize its delivery route. Beginning with an early access program in Tempe and Mesa, Ariz., DoorDash intends to bring the use of Dot into multiple new markets over time.
In April 2025, DoorDash expanded a pilot its international arm Wolt had been running in Helsinki, Finland with emissions-free Coco Robotics sidewalk delivery robots to Los Angeles and Chicago. Meanwhile, rival on-demand delivery platform Uber Eats has been piloting Coco Robotics sidewalk robots in both Miami and Los Angeles, and is also conducting several other robotic delivery pilots.
According to DoorDash, robotic delivery is part of a broader global multi-modal delivery platform strategy that integrates human drivers, drones, and autonomous robots in an effort to meet increasing demand while lowering costs and emissions.
DoorDash also recently began allowing select local consumers in Christianburg, Va. to order eligible menu items from Wendy’s and have them delivered via drones from Wing, the on-demand drone delivery provider powered by Google parent company Alphabet.
[READ MORE: DoorDash pilots U.S. delivery of Wendy’s orders with Wing drones]
This pilot followed a test program DoorDash and Wing launched in Australia in 2022 and has since expanded to three locations with over 60 participating retailers, marking the first time that Wing integrated its drone delivery service within another on-demand delivery marketplace.
"You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers," said Stanley Tang, co-founder and head of DoorDash Labs. "That’s the insight behind Dot. The breakthrough wasn't just making it autonomous, but in making it reliable and efficient to serve the needs of local businesses and consumers. Every design decision, from its compact size to its speed to the sensor suite, came from analyzing billions of deliveries on our global platform and understanding what actually moves the needle for merchants and consumers."
According to DoorDash, human drivers (which the company calls "dashers") will continue to complete the vast majority of its millions of daily deliveries. DoorDash intends for autonomous delivery technology to increasingly allow dashers to focus more on high-value orders that require human judgment and care.
DoorDash introduces new features, tools
In addition to Dot, DoorDash has announced several other new tech-related offerings:
- SmartScale, a proprietary hardware solution designed to help restaurants improve order accuracy. SmartScale combines precise weighing technology with intelligent predictive modeling. If discrepancies are detected, staff receive real-time alerts, allowing them to resolve issues before the order leaves the kitchen. Panera Bread is the first national restaurant to use the SmartScale for third-party orders on DoorDash, drive-thru, and first-party digital orders across the U.S., reporting improved delivery accuracy in 98% of test stores and a 42% reduction in customer-reported missing items.
- Going Out, a new feature that brings reservations, in-store rewards, and exclusive offers for members of the DashPass paid subscription program together in one place.
- A new third-party delivery partnership with Yelp. When diners order on Yelp, DoorDash will support the ordering and delivery experience, seamlessly connecting them to its retailer network. Starting Wednesday, Oct. 1, Yelp users will gain access to hundreds of thousands of new takeout and delivery options from retailers on the DoorDash marketplace. For restaurants not on the DoorDash Marketplace, Yelp will maintain existing delivery partnerships.
Founded in 2013, San Francisco-based DoorDash operates in more than 30 countries across the globe.
