Pipedream

Underground Robots Explained: The Future of Fast Food Imagine a world where fast food is turned into instant food. Instead of waiting in long drive-thru lines for your morning brew or lunchtime tacos, you will soon be able to zip in and out, and get on with your day almost instantly. Pipedream will soon make this a reality. The fastest drive-thru times are currently around 4 minutes, which is brilliant (go Taco Bell!). But in a world of bigger, better, faster, the restaurant industry is always looking to innovate to get to the next level: better speed, better service, advanced technology. We at Pipedream have now created our third iteration of our robot, which can reach speeds of over 50 mph! This robot runs inside of a (food safe) underground HDPE pipe and can deliver your burger and fries within 15 seconds. You got that right. 15 seconds. That is the same amount of time it takes to pour a cup of coffee, send a quick text, or check your phone for notifications. Essentially, our modular system has 3 components: the robot, the pipe, and the portal. There is an input portal and an output portal. The input portal is where the food goes in, typically from a kitchen. The order is then automatically conveyed to an underground chamber where it is placed on our very speedy robot. The robot then runs inside the pipe and exits back above ground wherever the output portal is placed, be it curbside, drive-thru, or in a nearby parking lot. And that’s it. Relatively simple, with infinite permutations. Our founders were inspired by the underground plumbing system (of all systems!). They thought, why not make Delivery the next utility, much like water, sewage, or electricity systems. We as a society are dependent on prepared foods, grocery and convenience items in our daily lives. Why not make obtaining these products faster, easier, and cheaper. This, in sum, is the large picture goal of Pipedream. What does this have to do with fast food drive-thrus? Everything. Fast food is our first, exciting proof of concept. This is one of the commodities we get and want the fastest; dare I say instantly? Not only can we make fast food pickup more efficient, we can do the same for curbside pickup for grocery, retailers, and more. We have already built out a fully-functional mile-long underground delivery loop in Georgia, demonstrating the viability of our technology. We are so excited to break ground this week at a top fast food chain, where our system will be soon available for a visit. Would you try out our system? #qsr #fastfood #techstartup #startups #robotics #innovation

For my #QSR folks, I highly recommend going through this article and report that came out this morning. Congrats to the unsurprising chart toppers! One key takeaway that stood out to me was the growing customer receptivity to new tech. While 45% of those surveyed initially reported "not liking the idea" of Voice AI in drive-thrus, 61% who actually tried it enjoyed the experience. The convergence of tech and innovation in QSR is inevitable. As someone in the tech space, I’ve seen firsthand how the right innovations can drastically improve efficiency. At Pipedream, we’re working on Instant Pickup for QSRs using underground shuttles, delivering orders in under 30 seconds. According to the study, cutting just 5 seconds from drive-thru service times could add $9,500 per year per store. These drive-thru studies from Intouch Insight have been critical in staying ahead of trends and gaining clarity on QSR metrics. #fastfood #qsr #hyperlogistics #startups #tech #innovation

We're #hiring a new Firmware & Controls Engineer in Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Construction Manager in Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area. Apply today or share this post with your network.

As we approach our first Pipedream network installs, we are looking to expand our team with a skilled Construction Manager. If you're ready for an exciting challenge, apply now or share with someone who might be interested. Join us in revolutionizing delivery! #hyperlogistics #pipedream #futureofdelivery #autonomousdelivery #startups #engineering #constructionjobs

I recently had a fascinating conversation with Canon Reeves, CTO and Co-founder of Pipedream Labs, on my podcast. Here are three key takeaways: 1. Pipedream is developing a network of thin underground pipes and autonomous robots for urban delivery. This system could transform last-mile logistics, starting with drive-thru restaurants and potentially scaling to entire cities. 2. Their modular design approach enables rapid iteration and scalability. By focusing on customer-driven development, they're creating a system that can adapt to various environments and use cases. 3. Pipedream's innovative instant pickup system revolutionizes the traditional drive-thru model. By creating underground automated pickup and drive-thru stations, they're enabling restaurants, grocery stores, and retailers to increase capacity and revenue without expanding their physical footprint. If you're interested in urban infrastructure, robotics, or innovative logistics solutions, check out the full episode. Links are in the comments. I recommend listening at 1.5x speed. #UrbanInnovation #Robotics #LastMileDelivery

Robot Delivers Nuggets Underground. We're not too far from a world in which this is true. In July, I started working at Pipedream, and it’s been a whirlwind ever since. Honestly, before I got to know the company, I thought it vacuumed objects underground, drive-thru ATM-style. I had no idea of the level of technology I was stepping into. I initially took the job because Pipedream seemed like a promising tech startup with some traction and (at least) a few cool people on the team. But I was in for so much more. My role is in business development. As I prepared to talk to clients about our tech, I needed to learn more about it myself. One of our engineers took me on a tour of our Manufacturing Facility—or "The Shop," as they call it—and I remember everything starting to come together. I remember walking through The Shop for the first time—my heels clicking on the floor, my ears ringing from the sound of drills, and sheet metal everywhere I looked. As I took it all in, I began to make sense of the different parts of the system—from the robot to the gantry (a vertical device that moves food up and down) to the track. Wow, I thought, this stuff actually works, and the team really knows what they’re doing (I realized I had significantly underestimated just how far along they were). Why what we're doing is cool: 1. Nobody else has done/is doing this. 2. It actually works. 3. There is a market for it. After several discussions with a number of prospective clients, I realized that the demand in QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) is strong. People want their food hot and they want it fast. Since the pandemic, digital orders have been skyrocketing. Customers don’t necessarily need to dine inside the restaurant—they just want their burgers, stat. Is it a race to the bottom? As brands like Taco Bell, McDonald's and Chick-fil-A Restaurants test Voice AI, robotic kitchens and drone delivery, I start to wonder if full-automation was in the cards (will there be no friendly Chick-fil-A hosts anymore? Will I only be greeted by a disembodied voice every morning as I get my Starbucks?). According to industry reports (shoutout Intouch Insight), what customers want is… well, everything. They want “friendliness,” or an interaction that they would rate the very technical "🙂" on a scale of 🙁 to 🙂. They want their orders to be accurate. They want hot, tasty food, and they don't want to wait too long for it. Is this too much to ask for? As my journey continues with Pipedream, I begin to ponder how our work will affect future generations. How will “simply” delivering food in 30 seconds curbside or drive-thru scale to a city-wide and perhaps even nation-wide labyrinth of interconnectivity? How will it affect our children, or our grandchildren? Will underground delivery become the next utility? Only time will tell. Follow Pipedream Labs for more. #automation #qsr #drivethru #venturecapital #earlystage #fastcasual #ai #voiceai #robotics #innovation #startups

I am thrilled to announce that I have joined Pipedream Labs as their new Head of Business Development. When I first heard about the company, I was impressed by their bold and impactful vision: underground robots delivering food and products, which seemed both so practical yet entirely novel. As I learned more about the mission and got to know the team, I was immediately impressed by their backgrounds and, importantly, character. Pipedream Labs operates an autonomous underground rail system that offers near-instantaneous delivery of objects to and from homes and businesses. In April, they raised a $13 million Seed Round led by Starship Ventures. Pipedream currently has over 100 contracts for its Instant Pickup systems from quick-service restaurants, retailers and grocers. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gQxvT-n7 I am excited about this next chapter and look forward to sharing the journey with you.

We are so excited to have you here!