Our pavements will be crowded with robots

It’s likely that in future, we will see an abundance of robots on pavements or sidewalks. With advancements in autonomy, robotic systems are becoming ever more common in various industries, including delivery and transportation. In many residential areas, robot delivery vehicles now trundle on pavements daily. These robots typically use sensors such as cameras, GPS, LiDAR and other technologies to navigate and can communicate with the delivery recipients via a smartphone app. Experts predict that soon it will be normal in almost every major city to be sharing pavements with such robots.

In densely populated urban areas, the use of robots for delivery could help reduce traffic congestion and improve efficiency. For example, companies like Starship Technologies are already operating fleets of over 2,700 robots across more than 270 locations globally, having completed over 9 million deliveries. In the UK alone, Starship robots are now operating in Cambridge, Leeds, Northampton, Bedford, and Greater Manchester, having completed over 500,000 deliveries by 2024. They may eventually outcompete the likes of Deliveroo and Royal Mail. From a management perspective, robot maintenance doesn’t involve salary, sick pay, pension or national insurance contributions.

The global delivery robot market is projected to grow from approximately $796 million in 2025 to $3.24 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of around 32%. As companies seek ways to automate and optimise their delivery operations, more organisations are investigating how automated systems can benefit their operations:

1. Cost savings: Delivery robots can reduce manual labour costs associated with traditional delivery methods.
2. Improved efficiency: Delivery robots have the potential to deliver items faster and more frequently than humans.
3. Reduced environmental impact: Delivery robots can reduce the carbon footprint associated with deliveries by using electric power instead of petrol/diesel. If the human and associated safety/infotainment features are removed, there is also less weight/energy to transport.
4. Increased accessibility: Delivery robots can deliver goods to areas that are difficult or impossible for traditional delivery vehicles to reach, such as narrow streets or pedestrian-only areas. Taking this one step further, delivery robots can also be used to deliver key supplies in war torn/disaster areas where it is unsafe for a human to pass.

However, the deployment of robots on pavements also raises questions about safety, accessibility, and regulations. It’s important to consider how robots can coexist with pedestrians and other vehicles on the pavement without causing accidents or disruptions. As one example, observers have noted instances where 45 kg robots patiently waiting to cross busy streets haven’t left enough room for pedestrians with pushchairs to pass behind them. So, whilst robotic systems provide a significant advantage to human society, especially with around the clock delivery services, understanding how they can co-exist with us on our travel networks is essential.

Regulatory frameworks also remain a challenge. In the UK, the Highways Act 1835 – which does not allow carriages to operate on pavements – creates legal uncertainty that could hinder investment in delivery robot infrastructure.

Industrial designers have raised concerns about the design of delivery robots: “with any new product, the design should be functional but also explore the relationship between human and the technology. How do pedestrians interact with delivery robots, do they feel safe sharing their pavements with them? Will they respond to a pedestrian’s requests to politely move out of the way?

“Currently robotic delivery systems are suggested as low level transportation vehicles, wide in stature, a low centre of gravity with a number of wheels. This is for obvious reasons, but is this the right approach? They can be hard to see and take up valuable pavement retail space. Due to the safety aspects associated with the current design, delivery companies have tried to compensate by introducing high visibility lights and tall warning flags. Could the product architecture change however to minimise the pavement space they occupy? Could we begin to see taller, thinner and human height eye level visible units, possibly using gyroscope technologies to enable the balance of a large mass, similar to those of the self-balancing single wheel scooters that are highly moveable and can travel at good speeds.”

Overall, while it’s likely that we will have to routinely share pavements with robots in the future, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the benefits, risks and regulatory frameworks before implementing them widely.