Alibaba recently announced some technological innovations that hint at a future with even more convenience than today. The company unveiled a driverless robot that will help deliver products purchased online more conveniently, as well as a facial recognition storage unit capable of keeping food warm. The robot is called G Plus and is currently being tested at Alibaba in Hangzhou, a major city in eastern China.
The G Plus can carry multiple packages of different sizes and has extended endurance to travel longer distances compared to its predecessors.
The G Plus's storage space can be adjusted depending on the package it needs to deliver. The robot has a built-in navigation system based on LIDAR, a technology with which it creates a 3D map of its surroundings in real time. When it senses that it is surrounded by people or other vehicles, it will reduce its speed to 10 kilometers per hour, so that it has enough braking space. For safety reasons, its maximum speed is about 15 kilometers per hour.
When the G Plus arrives at its destination, it will be able to deliver the package to a person using a PIN or leave it at a predetermined location.
Alibaba also unveiled a concept for a smart box that would be installed right outside the door of apartments. It would be equipped with facial recognition and would be unlocked by food delivery people who would be able to drop off their orders. Owners would be able to control the temperature of the box via an app to keep their food warm or cool until they pick it up. So far, the box is just a concept and there is no timeline for its release.
