Delivery robots are coming to a street near you, but they still have to hurdle a number of barriers, both physical and regulatory, before making it to most pavements.
Startups in the space are exploring how they can survive attacks from vandals, avoid urban hazards and navigate complex road systems in densely populated areas, but some of the most vital issues can be overlooked by those they don’t directly affect.
Starship Technologies has been studying one of these challenges. The company has collaborated with the UK charity Guide Dogs on the first test of how autonomous delivery services interact with assistance dogs on the street.