DoorDash’s Dot robot delivers food with a smile and glowing eyes

DoorDash has introduced Dot, a 350-pound, four-wheeled autonomous delivery robot designed specifically for local commerce, capable of carrying up to 30 pounds—equivalent to about six stacked pizza boxes. Dot features a bright red exterior with playful LED eyes and a cartoon-like mouth that opens to release deliveries. Standing 4.5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, it can transport groceries, toiletries, and food items with custom trays and insulated liners. The robot can travel at speeds up to 20 mph, navigating sidewalks, bike lanes, and narrow driveways, aiming to provide faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable delivery options while reducing traffic congestion. Equipped with eight cameras, four radars, and three LiDAR sensors, Dot autonomously scans its surroundings to select optimal routes and safely avoid obstacles without human remote control. It also includes interactive features such as a colorful LED message strip and audio alerts to create a friendly, approachable presence for customers. The robot operates on a sw