Encountering Automated Delivery Robots in Public Spaces: Presentation of Two Case Studies Involving Pedestrians and Cyclists

Abstract

Automated delivery robots (ADRs) are perceived as one of the solutions towards sustainable and efficient last-mile delivery process. However, research on their integration into public spaces has predominantly focused on interactions with intentional encounters in the case of users of delivery services, with less consideration given to nonusers’ interactions with ADRs. This paper contributes to the field by presenting two real-life case studies assessing nonusers’ experiences and attitudes towards ADRs. The first study investigates the acceptance of pedestrians to co-exist with ADRs in public spaces thanks to a survey and field observations, while the second examines the cyclist–ADR interaction supported by GNSS (global navigation satellite system) measurements and reported perceptions of the experiment. Both analyses revealed positive attitudes towards the coexistence with ADRs while emphasizing at the same time challenges that could hamper their deployment as well as the delivery process. These included for the pedestrian–ADR interactions how the crowd affects the navigation capabilities of ADRs and for the cyclist–ADR interactions the speed of the ADR as well as the width of the cycle lane. The paper concludes by highlighting the imperative for stakeholders to address issues of public space management and accessibility, with an emphasis on ensuring inclusivity for people with disabilities.