ATLAS, a three-wheeled electric delivery scooter, keeps groceries fresh in its storage pods

ATLAS updates grocery delivery system

Product designer ShuaiCheng (Drake) Dong devises a fresh-grocery delivery system in the form of a three-wheeled electric scooter named ATLAS. The fully electric delivery vehicle comes with a specialized driver-centered UI interface equipped with an information panel on the vehicle’s health, the temperature state of the storage sections, and its very own real-time digital maps to help the riders navigate their way to the buyer’s home.

The electric scooter ATLAS shoulders a refrigerated unit to keep frozen goods from melting while on the road and 12 push-and-pull storage pods to insert grocery items in. Dong says that each ATLAS fresh pod is designed to be fully refrigerated at around 4 degrees Celsius and secured in the central refrigerator unit. The numbered storage pods look tight-sealed, but their ventilation system may still be an area to work on. A card slot-shaped design appears at the front of the pods, acting as their cabinet handles.

images by ShuaiCheng (Drake) Dong

modular three-wheeled electric delivery scooter

The three-wheeled electric delivery scooter ATLAS keeps performance in mind to reduce consignment delays while keeping the riders safe. The suspension system keeps the high-horsepower vehicle balanced and the cargo safe even on sharp turns. Dong has also designed a high-voltage hot-swappable auxiliary battery for the mini scooter to shorten the recharge time and prolong its use on the road. The product designer adds that he has also used a direct drive in-wheel electric motor to allow more cargo area and better efficiency.

ATLAS is also modular with exchangeable parts for easy maintenance. ‘The whole frame can be directly built by CNC (Computer numerical control) with quick mass production. Every aspect of the product can be detached with tools,’ says Drake Dong. ‘To gain maximum capacity for the goods and ensure driver safety, the cargo area is located on the front to provide extra space and absorb impacts. The swingarm is made of ultra-hard coated stainless steel and can withstand the significant weight. The exterior of the main body was anodized to enable prolonged usage.’

the mini scooter has 12 numbered storage pods

personal warehouse for food supplies

Dong’s purpose for the whole design of the three-wheeled electric delivery scooter ATLAS is to unravel a quick and efficient way of devising a vehicle that can deliver fresh groceries in suburban areas that can be built at low costs. ‘This system allows for sending groceries more efficiently, without delay or quality issues, by personalizing and minimizing the distribution processes,’ says Dong.

Alongside ATLAS, Dong imagines user costs being largely cut down by building a modular warehouse for the food supplies that the electric delivery scooter ships. He thinks of sourcing the grocery items from local producers in remote and urban areas, and through the help of ATLAS, their goods can be delivered to cities, retaining their fresh quality. ‘It is also a more convenient way for urban families to buy fresh groceries. Most importantly, the transparency of the whole process enables users to know where and when their food was produced,’ he adds.

it also has a refrigerator unit to keep frozen goods from melting