San Francisco Cracks Down on Delivery Robots

Companies looking to examination package or food delivery robots on San Francisco sidewalks will have a more than difficult fourth dimension in the future.

According to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle, the metropolis'due south Board of Supervisors this week unanimously passed tough new regulations that "limit companies to 3 robots each; limit the city to nine robots total; and confine robots to industrial areas where well-nigh no ane lives." On top of that, robots being tested on metropolis sidewalks can go no faster than iii mph, and a human must exist present to monitor the car.

San Francisco Supervisor Norman Yee and supporters originally wanted to ban robots — similar the ones from Yelp partner Marble — from the city'southward sidewalks altogether, as is the example with Segways and bicycles, according to the Chronicle. Yee and pedestrian advocacy groups reportedly "said they desire to forestall sidewalk crowding and protect seniors, children and disabled people."

But the Chronicle noted that the regulations may also exist fueled by business concern over automation stealing jobs away from humans.

"As more and more people start to lose jobs to automation you'll see this kind of response," Vanderbilt Computer Scientific discipline Professor Douglas Schmidt told the news outlet.

Marble has been testing its commitment robots in San Francisco'due south Mission and Potrero Hill neighborhoods in partnership with Yelp's Eat24 service. The waist-loftier robots feature ultrasonic sensors, cameras, and other technology to monitor their surroundings.

If Marble and other companies discover San Francisco's new rules besides restrictive, they won't have to travel too far to find locations that offer a more lenient stance towards robots. A number of nearby cities – including Redwood City, San Carlos, Sunnyvale, and Concord – have embraced robot pilot programs, as have states like Idaho, Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida, and Ohio, the report notes.

Meanwhile, across the pond, Domino's has already enlisted robots to deliver pizzas in Federal republic of germany and the Netherlands. If those trials are successful, Domino's could expand the service to more than of its 2,000+ stores worldwide.

About Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo is PCMag's adept on fitness and smart home products. Education yoga for nearly ten years has helped her in evaluating a range of connected wellness products including fitness trackers, middle rate monitors, rowers, smart scales, stationary bikes, strength training machines, treadmills, and more. Angela also tests smart home devices from her ranch in Florida, including air purifiers, kitchen appliances, and robot vacuums, but to name a few.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/news/18586/san-francisco-cracks-down-on-delivery-robots

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