Serve Robotics opens a robotic delivery network for others to build on

Serve Robotics Inc. today launched its AV Delivery Developer Portal, giving developers, businesses, hobbyists and AI assistants the opportunity to programmatically summon its curbside delivery robots. The company said its public application programming interface, or API, allows others to work with its fleet of autonomous robots. It also released a sandbox environment where anyone can build and test applications before using them with live robots.

“You shouldn’t start a robotics company to build something useful with robots,” said Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics. “We’ve spent years understanding how robots can navigate neighborhoods. The people who live and work there will have needs we hadn’t thought of. Opening up our fleet gives us the opportunity to meet those needs.”

Born out of Uber in 2021, Serve Robotics designs and operates robots that move autonomously in complex, human-centered environments. The Redwood City, California-based company said it has deployed more than 2,000 robots in the United States and Australia, reaching about 3 million people and supporting delivery for more than 4,000 restaurants.

Earlier this year, Serve acquired hospital robot provider Diligent Robotics. Serve said it designs its robots’ hardware and software to work safely in large-scale public and private environments.

Serve Robotics opens the technology to new robots and developers

Serve Robotics said its mobile robots are intended to make everyday errands easy and on-demand delivery affordable and accessible. Companies can use robots to transport goods between their offices, and local businesses can expand their delivery reach without hiring more staff, the company noted.

Last week, Serve launched Serve Physical AI Services, opening up its technology to companies building new types of robots. While the company’s systems have completed hundreds of thousands of deliveries in more than 150 neighborhoods in 20 U.S. cities, until now they were only available through third-party delivery partners.

Today, Serve said it is “opening up the fleet itself to anyone who needs affordable and efficient last-mile autonomous delivery.” Developers can build on their existing apps, businesses can add robots to their daily workflows, and AI assistants can perform tasks in the physical world.

The AV Delivery developer portal allows anyone to dispatch those robots with a few lines of code or even an AI agent. “The same robots previously available only through the largest delivery platforms can now power any local delivery,” Serve Robotics said.

Builders can use APIs and sandboxes before live robots

“Building on Fleet works like building on any other API,” Serve Robotics said. An application or AI assistant can request a pickup and drop-off, confirm the details, and monitor a robot until the delivery is complete. Serve manages dispatch, routing, navigation and remote supervision to ensure timely, secure and reliable delivery.

Deliveries are limited to active service areas and Serve operating hours, as well as items that can fit in the robot’s cargo bay.

The sandbox allows developers to simulate robots, run delivery workflows, and test edge cases before running real robots. Builders can explore the documentation and sandbox at https://developer.serverobotics.com.

Access to live robots is subject to approval by Serve. Those looking to move beyond the sandbox can indicate their interest via the portal, the company said.