'We had to get out of the way': The backlash over delivery robots
Image source, Getty Images
Delivery robots are now a common sight in some cities around the world
ByEmma Woollacott
Technology reporter
The first time Chicago resident Josh Robertson saw a delivery robot trundling down the sidewalk on his street he was impressed.
"I actually thought they were kind of neat – it felt futuristic," he says.
But his attitude started to change when, soon after, he was out for a walk with his family. As another robot approached, they found themselves having to dodge it.
"To us it felt a little off - the fact that we were on the one strip reserved for walking, and we were having to get out of the way," says Robertson. "I started thinking about what it would be like for us to go for a walk as a family if there were dozens of robots with lights and cameras zipping around."
The robots, more formally known as autonomous urban delivery vehicles, have started to appear on pavements in a number of cities across the US, plus in the UK, Japan, South Korea and Germany, transporting groceries and fast food, using cameras, sensors and GPS to navigate.
Image source, John Robertson
Chicagoan Josh Robertson has launched a campaign against delivery robots
According to the companies operating them, they can reliably identify and avoid objects in the path, cross streets safely and react to their environment. The robots provide a useful service and help cut down on traffic and emissions, they claim.
However, some local authorities in the US and Canada, and members of the public, are less than enthusiastic. Bans have been put in place, and protests have been launched.
San Francisco has limited the access of the vehicles to less busy parts of the city, and Toronto has since 2021 prohibited the robots from using sidewalks. , external
Meanwhile, in Chicago the machines have now been banned from two small areas of the city. , external
Robertson wants the robots to be suspended across all of Chicago until safety tests are carried out, and clear rules are set on their usage. He has launched a petition calling for this, and so far, it has around 4,400 signatures.
People frequently find themselves having to step into the street in order to get out of the machines' way, says Robertson.
"There have been reports of collisions and injuries. I saw one a few days ago where somebody had been struck by one of the robots' safety flags, which is a little ironic," he says. "We've got reports of robots causing issues with traffic, blocking emergency vehicles because they're acting erratically at crosswalks."
Similar concerns have emerged in Glendale, California, where the local council is considering a temporary ban on the use of the vehicles. Councillors say the robots appeared without warning, and at first they didn't even know which company was supplying them.
"What triggered the concern and the discussion was a number of factors," says Coun Ardy Kassakhian. "The increased visibility of the robots in the downtown, and the question about accessibility and pedestrian movement on our public sidewalks.
"Plus, uncertainty regarding the regulatory authority - because no-one asked us for permission to use the sidewalks for this business enterprise - and then the broader concern was about the impact on workers and public places."
Sidewalks in Glendale aren't particularly wide, adds Kassakhian, and he personally has witnessed a "stand-off" between a delivery robot and an elderly person, as well as broken-down robots causing obstructions.
Kassakhian says the council is seeking a regulated approach for the longer term. "We need a regulatory framework, we need to designate operating rules, insurance requirements, accessibility standards, possibly permitting fees, operational limits in high pedestrian areas, and to have accountability for the operators."
Image source, Coco
Rules governing delivery robots differ around the world
In the UK, where delivery robots are being piloted in a number of cities, some locals have taken matters into their own hands. There have been reports of Uber Eats vehicles being vandalised in Sheffield.
The supplier of these machines, Starship Technologies, says they are perfectly safe and that perceptions need to change.
"We know it's a new experience for a lot of people to share a pavement with a robot," says the company's European operations director Danny Pass.
"But the robots are friendly, they're polite and they're programmed to be careful. They've slotted into everyday life in loads of communities since we started out in the UK back in 2018."
Not all concerns, though, are centred around pedestrian safety. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), whose members include delivery drivers, is worried about the impact on jobs. It says it is keeping a watchful eye, and it has already expressed its concerns to the government.
"I think if it became more of a [permanent, countrywide] reality, we'd definitely have to be thinking about where we put on pressure - whether that's government, TfL [Transport for London], or local authorities - to ensure that these things are banned, because the human impact would be massive," says president Alex Marshall.
"This would mean whole communities in London, where a lot of people are precarious workers, would really suffer. People would be fighting for their lives against these pointless robots."
Image source, IWGB
UK trade union boss Alex Marshall, left, is worried that delivery robots will mean job cuts
While the use of autonomous delivery robots is still limited, analysts believe they're set for a major boom. A report last summer from research firm Transforma Insight, indeed, concluded that by 2034, there will be 2.1 million in operation, external around the world.
Currently, there's a hotchpotch of regulation worldwide. Some countries, such as South Korea and Japan, have taken a liberal approach.
Back in Chicago, Robertson says he is fighting for the best possible outcome for pedestrians city-wide.
"There's a sense that change like this, even when it's unwanted is inevitable. But even if none of us can stop the future, we can at least choose which future we move into."
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Autonomous delivery robots have begun operating on sidewalks in cities across the US, UK, Japan, South Korea and Germany, delivering groceries and food using cameras, sensors and GPS. Operating companies argue they reduce traffic and emissions while safely navigating urban environments. However, residents in several cities have raised concerns about pedestrian access to sidewalks, safety incidents, traffic disruption and job losses among delivery workers. Some local authorities have responded with restrictions: San Francisco limited their range, Toronto banned sidewalk use, and Chicago restricted them in two areas. In Chicago, a resident has launched a petition calling for suspension pending safety tests and clear rules. In Glendale, California, the city council is considering a temporary ban and developing regulatory frameworks. In the UK, some robots have been vandalised. Trade unions and some residents express worry about employment impacts. Regulatory standards differ globally, with South Korea and Japan taking more permissive approaches. Industry analysts forecast 2.1 million such robots operating worldwide by 2034.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Image source, Getty Images
Delivery robots are now a common sight in some cities around the world
ByEmma Woollacott
Technology reporter
The first time Chicago resident Josh Robertson saw a delivery robot trundling down the sidewalk on his street he was impressed.
"I actually thought they were kind of neat – it felt futuristic," he says.
But his attitude started to change when, soon after, he was out for a walk with his family. As another robot approached, they found themselves having to dodge it.
"To us it felt a little off - the fact that we were on the one strip reserved for walking, and we were having to get out of the way," says Robertson. "I started thinking about what it would be like for us to go for a walk as a family if there were dozens of robots with lights and cameras zipping around."
The robots, more formally known as autonomous urban delivery vehicles, have started to appear on pavements in a number of cities across the US, plus in the UK, Japan, South Korea and Germany, transporting groceries and fast food, using cameras, sensors and GPS to navigate.
Image source, John Robertson
Chicagoan Josh Robertson has launched a campaign against delivery robots
According to the companies operating them, they can reliably identify and avoid objects in the path, cross streets safely and react to their environment. The robots provide a useful service and help cut down on traffic and emissions, they claim.
However, some local authorities in the US and Canada, and members of the public, are less than enthusiastic. Bans have been put in place, and protests have been launched.
San Francisco has limited the access of the vehicles to less busy parts of the city, and Toronto has since 2021 prohibited the robots from using sidewalks. , external
Meanwhile, in Chicago the machines have now been banned from two small areas of the city. , external
Robertson wants the robots to be suspended across all of Chicago until safety tests are carried out, and clear rules are set on their usage. He has launched a petition calling for this, and so far, it has around 4,400 signatures.
People frequently find themselves having to step into the street in order to get out of the machines' way, says Robertson.
"There have been reports of collisions and injuries. I saw one a few days ago where somebody had been struck by one of the robots' safety flags, which is a little ironic," he says. "We've got reports of robots causing issues with traffic, blocking emergency vehicles because they're acting erratically at crosswalks."
Similar concerns have emerged in Glendale, California, where the local council is considering a temporary ban on the use of the vehicles. Councillors say the robots appeared without warning, and at first they didn't even know which company was supplying them.
"What triggered the concern and the discussion was a number of factors," says Coun Ardy Kassakhian. "The increased visibility of the robots in the downtown, and the question about accessibility and pedestrian movement on our public sidewalks.
"Plus, uncertainty regarding the regulatory authority - because no-one asked us for permission to use the sidewalks for this business enterprise - and then the broader concern was about the impact on workers and public places."
Sidewalks in Glendale aren't particularly wide, adds Kassakhian, and he personally has witnessed a "stand-off" between a delivery robot and an elderly person, as well as broken-down robots causing obstructions.
Kassakhian says the council is seeking a regulated approach for the longer term. "We need a regulatory framework, we need to designate operating rules, insurance requirements, accessibility standards, possibly permitting fees, operational limits in high pedestrian areas, and to have accountability for the operators."
Image source, Coco
Rules governing delivery robots differ around the world
In the UK, where delivery robots are being piloted in a number of cities, some locals have taken matters into their own hands. There have been reports of Uber Eats vehicles being vandalised in Sheffield.
The supplier of these machines, Starship Technologies, says they are perfectly safe and that perceptions need to change.
"We know it's a new experience for a lot of people to share a pavement with a robot," says the company's European operations director Danny Pass.
"But the robots are friendly, they're polite and they're programmed to be careful. They've slotted into everyday life in loads of communities since we started out in the UK back in 2018."
Not all concerns, though, are centred around pedestrian safety. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), whose members include delivery drivers, is worried about the impact on jobs. It says it is keeping a watchful eye, and it has already expressed its concerns to the government.
"I think if it became more of a [permanent, countrywide] reality, we'd definitely have to be thinking about where we put on pressure - whether that's government, TfL [Transport for London], or local authorities - to ensure that these things are banned, because the human impact would be massive," says president Alex Marshall.
"This would mean whole communities in London, where a lot of people are precarious workers, would really suffer. People would be fighting for their lives against these pointless robots."
Image source, IWGB
UK trade union boss Alex Marshall, left, is worried that delivery robots will mean job cuts
While the use of autonomous delivery robots is still limited, analysts believe they're set for a major boom. A report last summer from research firm Transforma Insight, indeed, concluded that by 2034, there will be 2.1 million in operation, external around the world.
Currently, there's a hotchpotch of regulation worldwide. Some countries, such as South Korea and Japan, have taken a liberal approach.
Back in Chicago, Robertson says he is fighting for the best possible outcome for pedestrians city-wide.
"There's a sense that change like this, even when it's unwanted is inevitable. But even if none of us can stop the future, we can at least choose which future we move into."
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Delivery robots are now operating on sidewalks in cities across the US, UK, Japan, South Korea and Germany, transporting groceries and fast food using cameras, sensors and GPS San Francisco limited robot access to less busy areas, Toronto banned sidewalk use since 2021, and Chicago banned them from two small areas Josh Robertson's petition for Chicago suspension pending safety tests has around 4,400 signatures Reported incidents include collisions, injuries from safety flags, traffic obstruction and emergency vehicle blockage Glendale city council witnessed a stand-off between a robot and an elderly person and broken-down robots causing obstructions Robots have been vandalised in Sheffield, UK Research firm Transforma Insight projects 2.1 million robots in operation globally by 2034 Operating companies claim robots are safe, reliable at identifying obstacles, crossing streets safely and reacting to their environment Residents describe being forced to step into streets to avoid robots and express concern about dozens of robots with cameras operating in their neighbourhoods Glendale councillor cites concerns about robots appearing without permission and uncertainty about regulatory authority Trade union argues that widespread robot deployment would cause massive human impact and job losses in precarious worker communities Starship Technologies states robots are friendly, polite and have integrated into communities since 2018 in the UK
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- Delivery robots are operating on sidewalks in multiple cities globally, but face growing public resistance and bans in some areas
- Concerns centre on pedestrian safety, accessibility, traffic obstruction, and job displacement for delivery workers
- Regulatory approaches vary widely; some cities are implementing restrictions while companies claim the robots are safe and beneficial
- Chicago resident Josh Robertson launched a petition for suspension and safety testing; Glendale, CA is considering temporary ban
- Industry analysts predict significant growth to 2.1 million robots by 2034 despite current regulatory uncertainty