East Arlington Residents Invited to Sign Up for Innovative Grocery Delivery Pilot Program

By Susan Schrock, Office of Communications

Posted on August 13, 2024, August 13, 2024

Photo caption: Clevon’s autonomous delivery robot, CLEVON 1, is equipped with a spacious cargo bay that the participants can unlock with a code to access their food.

Interested in free groceries dropped off at your home? East Arlington residents are invited to sign up by Aug. 30 for the opportunity to receive nonperishable items delivered by air and ground robots to their homes as part of the City’s grant-funded Multimodal Delivery Pilot Program.

With the help of a $780,182 U.S. Department of Energy grant, the City of Arlington is conducting this innovative pilot program to test the efficiency and scalability of using autonomous, electric delivery vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while serving residents in need. Arlington is partnering with Tarrant Area Food Bank, the University of Texas at Arlington, the North Central Texas Council of Governments, Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition, Airspace Link, Aerialoop, and Clevon.

The goal of this two-year study is to test and evaluate the use of no-emission or low-emission uncrewed aircraft and four-wheeled robots that are smaller than cars to deliver essential food items to individuals who are mobility challenged, historically disadvantaged, or lack a reliable means of transportation.

Interested in Participating?

Delivery participants are needed! The City and its partners aim to deliver at least 150 boxes of food from Tarrant Area Food bank to select East Arlington neighborhoods between Sept. 9 and Sept. 13. These deliveries will be made by Aerialoop’s ALT6-4 VTOL Delivery aircraft, a 6-foot-long battery powered aircraft that can carry nearly nine pounds, and Clevon’s autonomous delivery robot, CLEVON 1, which is equipped with a spacious cargo bay that the participants can unlock with a code to access their food.

Here’s Who Can Participate

• Live in the target delivery area. This includes a portion of The University of Texas at Arlington campus and neighborhoods roughly bound by Abram Street to the north, State Highway 360 to the east, Pioneer Parkway to the south and Collins Street to the west. (See map below)

• Be available to receive the food package at your scheduled time the week of Sept. 9-13. City staff will contact you regarding your delivery time after sign-up.

• Be able to pick up the package from the delivery vehicle at your curb.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and help shape the future of transportation and delivery. Plus, you’ll get groceries delivered to your door!

Want to Sign Up?

Visit arlingtontx.gov/multimodaldelivery or call 817-459-6688 by Aug. 30 to sign up and to learn more about the project.

Photo caption: Aerialoop’s ALT6-4 VTOL Delivery aircraft is a 6-foot-long battery powered aircraft that can carry nearly nine pounds.

Delivery Service Area