Serve Robotics Launches Developer Portal to Open Sidewalk Delivery Robot Access

Image: Serve Robotics wants to democratize sidewalk delivery robots · Source

Serve Robotics introduces an AV Delivery Developer Portal, allowing third-party developers and businesses to use its autonomous sidewalk delivery robots for direct dispatching, aiming to reduce reliance on major food delivery apps and broaden robot use cases.

Serve Robotics, a pioneer in autonomous last-mile delivery, is opening its platform to developers and independent businesses through a new AV Delivery Developer Portal. This initiative enables third-party software engineers, small businesses, and AI agents to access Serve’s fleet of approximately 2,000 autonomous sidewalk delivery robots operating in 150 neighborhoods across cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas.

Previously focusing on food delivery in partnership with major platforms like Uber Eats, Serve Robotics aims to diversify usage and maximize fleet utilization beyond peak meal times. According to Serve’s CEO Ali Kashani, this open platform approach reduces reliance on dominant food delivery apps with costly fees and allows continuous robot engagement between lunch and dinner rushes.

Through the Developer Portal, users can dispatch delivery robots directly by supplying pickup and dropoff coordinates. Serve’s backend software manages obstacle avoidance, routing, and remote teleoperation supervision to safely navigate sidewalks, where robots move at speeds around 6 mph to minimize risks to pedestrians.

The platform supports a pay-per-delivery or hourly reservation model, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional human courier services. This opens possibilities beyond food, including intra-office item shuttling, repair shop parts delivery, and peer-to-peer exchanges. By enabling local businesses like bakeries, florists, and pharmacies to integrate robot delivery directly into their checkout systems, Serve Robotics seeks to lower the high commission fees imposed by third-party delivery apps.

While expanding access, Serve maintains operational oversight; robot deployments require manual approval to avoid hazardous or illegal uses, and liability for goods depends on negotiated terms with partners. Importantly, Serve does not plan to extend its technology to street-based delivery vehicles, focusing instead on sidewalk autonomy.

This platform launch follows Serve Robotics’ decision not to renew its partnership with Uber Eats, reflecting a trend toward building independent delivery networks. By democratizing access to autonomous delivery robots, Serve Robotics hopes to improve economic viability of last-mile deliveries and foster new innovation in urban logistics.