While it's true that people had concerns about the safety of the autonomous delivery robot, 48 percent of the respondents still considered it safe. The helper robot concept was better received by the public. The study presented two concepts: an autonomous robot and a helper robot. And a positive public perception of the delivery robots helps shape policy for adoption in cities where the technology will be most useful. However, when the public has a positive user interaction and sees the usefulness of the robot, and that it can "behave" in a socially appropriate way, they often begin to enjoy seeing them around. There are also questions about security, both for the goods being delivered and for data privacy. People wonder if it's safe for these robots to operate on crowded city sidewalks, or around people, pets and other hazards. As with any new technology, there's an acceptance curve along the path to adoption of the technology. Some of this restraint is driven by legitimate public concerns around safety when humans and robots share the sidewalks, but other people simply consider the use of a high-tech robot to make a sandwich delivery as just another unnecessary and unwanted gizmo.ĭoes the public perception of a delivery robot matter?Īs these collaborative robots begin rolling and walking in the real world, there can be anxiety toward the machines and how we're supposed to interact with them. On the other hand, some cities have put the brakes on the use of AGV robots for delivery, and are enacting new zoning restrictions, requiring a permit for their operation or requiring that a human handler be present while the robot is in use. The need and timing are right to see these task-driven robots achieve operational feasibility in cities. Starship Technologies, Effidence, Savioke, Marble and other robotics companies have had their 'bots delivering takeout food, small packages, and flowers for some time, and many prominent retailers are looking to up the ante in the race to solve the perennial last-mile delivery problem of delivering goods direct to your door. Futurists envision a digital "smart city" where these robots play an integral part of the on-demand economy, and many cities and businesses are rolling out the welcome mat. We're at something of a tipping point for helper robots in general, and especially for AGV delivery robots. These robots are the first of what many companies and cities foresee as a wave of inexpensive, high-tech alternatives to car-enabled shopping trips and delivery trucks that contribute to traffic gridlock and pollution.īut are city dwellers as enthusiastic and accepting of these robots as delivery companies and city leaders want them to be? The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently conducted a study to gauge the potential perception of these delivery robots when used for delivering mail. Developed to travel from A to B autonomously, these robot rovers (technically known as autonomous ground vehicles or "AGVs") use cameras, GPS and radar to “see" their environment and navigate through it. Some pedestrians have already met them: small boxes on wheels that scoot down public sidewalks and cross city streets.
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