Home · Technology · Sep 19 archive
Delivery Robots Swarm Chicago Sidewalk in Viral Video
Developing
In Short: A video circulating online shows a group of delivery robots from Coco swarming a narrow stretch of sidewalk in Chicago, causing a disruption to pedestrians.
In the video, Ostien, who filmed the incident, described the robots as 'swarming' and said someone without agile feet would have had trouble getting through.
Coco, the company behind the robots, attributed the incident to a 'sidewalk deployment error' that caused several robots to reroute at the same time.
Coco's spokesperson, Coco, told CyberGuy, 'That's not how our robots are designed to operate, and we understand the disruption it caused.
The company said its team quickly identified and corrected the problem, clearing the robots and returning them to normal operation within minutes.
Coco has been operating in Chicago through a pilot program for two years, completing tens of thousands of trips.
However, the rollout has faced resistance from some residents, who are concerned about the impact of delivery robots on sidewalks.
According to Coco, its robots are designed to log sidewalk hazards such as fallen e-scooters and broken curb cuts, aiming to improve the pedestrian environment.
Coco emphasized, 'Robots built to navigate the pedestrian environment have a responsibility to improve it for everyone who shares that space.
The incident raises broader questions about the growing number of delivery robots rolling through American cities and their impact on public spaces.
What's still developing
- Video of the encounter shows roughly a dozen robots packed into a narrow stretch of sidewalk.
- At least a dozen Coco delivery robots had gathered along North Clark Street, leaving her to navigate what looked like a miniature robot traffic jam.
- During a recent morning outing, she came across a group of Coco robots clustered together on the sidewalk.
Sources
- Fox Newslink