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Self-driving robots becoming popular for food delivery service in Miami as residents share mixed feelings

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Self-driving robots becoming popular for food delivery service in Miami as residents share mixed feelings


They’re the delivery drivers who don’t say much when they drop off your food. Despite their lack of conversation skills, self-driving robots are taking over the streets of Miami.

Yet, some residents have mixed feelings about them.

“I find them to be a little bit annoying, inconvenient,” said Isabella Priest, who lives in the area. 

“I like the robots because if you didn’t have the robots, you would have a million bicycle riders from Grubhub,” said Susan, who also lives in the area.

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Technology is changing the food service landscape

Serve Robotics Inc. is one of the companies providing their AI-operated, self-driving delivery robots for service in South Florida.

“Everything is fully integrated through the Uber Eats app. Once you get to the check-out page of the merchant, there is a toggle that, as the consumer, you have the power to turn on or off,” Partnership manager Los Nevarez said. “If you leave it on, you have the possibility of getting matched with a robot for your delivery. If you are someone who tips in advance, once you get that robot delivery, you get that tip refunded to you.”

There’s no one operating these robots; they get around on their own.

“It is the computer on board, the AI that’s making the driving decisions. So, it’s taking data from all its different sensors, it’s five cameras, all of these different sensors are providing it that safe path to traverse throughout the city,” said Nevarez.

These robots operate on the sidewalks, can cross streets and typically travel 3 to 5 mph.

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They only deliver to places that are no more than 1.25 miles from the restaurant.

Some restaurants seeing a boost in business

Merchants like Rice Mediterranean say the robots have boosted their business substantially.

“It’s a lot, more than a hundred orders daily,” said Pierre El Kossaifi, general manager at Rice Mediterranean.

Once the merchant loads the food into the robot, the door locks, and it’s on its way to its destination.

The person who orders it gets a notification on their phone to unlock it. You press the button on the robot, then dinner is served.

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The serve robots operate off an 18-hour battery, and when you see them congregated together, they’re still “on the clock.”

Mixed reviews 

They’re the delivery drivers of the future, but they’re here today, despite mixed feelings about their existence.

“They’re bad, they should take them away! They contest the sidewalk,” said Mohamad Alrasheed.

“I like them. I don’t think they’ve gotten in the way or stopped a lot of traffic or anything like that. The more robotic and new age we get, that’s just what it’s going to be,” said Nick Cavil.

If the robots do get stuck, there is an operator who is alerted to help navigate them out.

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For more information about these robots and how they operate, check out https://www.serverobotics.com.



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Miami, FL

Hundreds of Caribbean flights canceled, leaving travelers stranded at Miami International Airport

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Hundreds of Caribbean flights canceled, leaving travelers stranded at Miami International Airport


Travel disruptions continued Sunday at Miami International Airport after hundreds of flights to and from the Caribbean were canceled, leaving passengers stranded, separated from their luggage, and scrambling to salvage vacation plans.

The Federal Aviation Administration closed airspace in and around Venezuela following the reported capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday, triggering a ripple effect across Caribbean travel routes.

By Sunday, long lines had formed inside MIA as travelers waited hours to track down luggage that had been sent ahead — even though their flights never took off.

“As you can see, there’s a lot of people, and apparently thousands and thousands of bags,” said Jennifer Heimann, who was traveling from Tampa.

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Heimann and her family were scheduled to sail on a catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. Their flight to St. Thomas was canceled, but their luggage still made the trip.

“They said, ‘Your bags are in St. Thomas,’ and I said, ‘Wait — our bags are there and we’re not?’” Heimann said. “We can’t even get a flight until Thursday, and they just sent the bags ahead.”

The family is now renting a car to drive back to Tampa and hoping their luggage eventually finds its way home.

Similar frustrations were echoed by other travelers across the terminal.

The Cookson family, traveling from Tyler, Texas, had their flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico canceled just before they were set to board a cruise.

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“They’re shipping our bags out to the Caribbean and not allowing us to retrieve them,” said Pamela Cookson. “We don’t know when we’re going to get our luggage.”

American Airlines says it added six additional flights out of Miami, bringing the total to roughly two dozen extra flights and nearly 5,000 additional seats to help impacted customers. Even so, many passengers told CBS News Miami the earliest rebooking available wasn’t until Thursday.

Susan Daniel, traveling from Little Rock, Arkansas to St. Croix, said the delays forced her family to make last-minute arrangements.

“We had to Uber, leave our bags, get an Airbnb, then come back today, take another Uber, and stand in this long line just to hopefully get our bags and our computers — everything we need,” Daniel said.

Some travelers reported waiting hours in one line, only to be directed into another long wait for their luggage. Others tried to make the best of the situation.

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“Guess we’re vacationing in Miami now for three days or something like that,” said Jake Boylin, who was traveling from St. Louis. “Then going back home and rescheduling the trip.”

The next unanswered question for many travelers: whether they’ll be reimbursed for canceled trips, hotels, and cruises.

Travel experts advise passengers to keep all receipts and documentation in case refunds or reimbursements become available.



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Miami, FL

Venezuela supporters join Cuban Americans in Miami show of solidarity

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Venezuela supporters join Cuban Americans in Miami show of solidarity


In Little Havana, Cuban and Venezuelan Americans gathered outside an iconic restaurant to show solidarity following the removal of Nicolás Maduro. Crowds waved Cuban and Venezuelan flags throughout the afternoon and evening, describing the moment as one they had hoped for over decades.



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Miami, FL

Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy opens fire on vehicle after altercation during traffic stop, officials say

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Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputy opens fire on vehicle after altercation during traffic stop, officials say



An investigation is underway in Northwest Miami-Dade after the sheriff’s office said a deputy opened fire after an altercation occurred during a traffic stop on Sunday night.

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According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, a deputy received an alert about a stolen vehicle Sunday evening and eventually located the vehicle in the area of NW 17th Avenue and NW 95th Street in West Little River and conducted a traffic stop.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said that as the deputy approached the vehicle, an altercation began, and the deputy opened fire, striking the vehicle.

That vehicle then fled the scene and was located nearby.

The sheriff’s office said a gun was located inside the vehicle, and the driver fled the scene.

That person is still at large as of early Monday morning, officials said.

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The deputy was not injured in the incident, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS (8477).



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