Are You Ready For Robots In Houston?

Get ready, Houston, you might be spotting some unusual traffic in the next year or two. DoorDash has just launched its first commercial fleet of “Dot” autonomous delivery robots in Phoenix, Arizona, and the company has hinted that big cities like Houston are next on the list. If the timeline holds, we could be seeing these robots on our sidewalks, bike lanes, and streets by 2026.

So, what exactly is Dot? Picture a robot about one-tenth the size of a car, rolling on four wheels, moving at speeds up to 20 miles per hour. It’s all-electric, built by DoorDash Labs, and designed to deliver everything from tacos to toilet paper. The idea is to blend Dot into the delivery system that already uses human Dashers and, in some areas, even drones.

What does that mean for Houston? First, it makes sense: we’re one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and DoorDash already has a big footprint here. Houston’s sprawling neighborhoods and booming food scene make us a prime testing ground for the next wave of delivery tech. DoorDash has also been clear—they start in one market, then expand to other big metros.

If the rollout happens here, you can expect to see Dots quietly humming along on sidewalks or scooting down side streets, stopping in front of homes and apartments to drop off orders. They’ll be sharing space with joggers, bikes, and strollers, so there’s bound to be an adjustment period.

DoorDash has already worked with other robotics companies in Los Angeles and Chicago, so they’re not new to the idea. But Houston could be one of the first cities to get DoorDash’s very own in-house fleet of Dots.

So don’t be surprised if, in a couple of years, your Friday night takeout shows up courtesy of a small red robot instead of a car. The future of delivery in Houston might just be rolling right up to your front door.