A new fleet of robots delivering food in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is turning heads and sparking some community debate.
Since they began carrying their first Uber Eats orders last week, the self-driving bots from the company Avride have mostly earned curious glances and photos from local residents, who can now select a robot delivery option from establishments like TNR Cafe in Courthouse and Bakeshop in Clarendon.
“The reaction we’re seeing in Arlington is quite similar to what we’ve experienced in other cities where we’ve launched,” company spokesperson Laura Lawton told ARLnow. “People are taking pictures and videos of our robots as they’re curious.”
In some online conversations, however, locals have given mixed reviews.
Some speak in favor of convenience in other places with robo-delivery options, such as George Mason University’s Fairfax campus. Others, however, are voicing irritation about the robots “cluttering pedestrian passageways” and creating another obstacle for travelers.
“Obviously there is no reason one’s community should be forced to accept this latest corporate intrusion on public space,” wrote one commenter on the Facebook group Arlington Neighbors Helping Each Other.
A recurring theme among commenters was concerns about collisions or neighborhood ne’er-do-wells damaging the robots — something that company representatives say is uncommon in other localities with the delivery service: Austin, Dallas, Jersey City and Philadelphia.
“If people don’t stop for pedestrians, I don’t [think] they’ll stop for these,” a commenter wrote. “That said, they are all over colleges, and I think they’re cute. For colleges.”
Many locals simply have questions, inquiring about topics such as the robots’ range, their approach to crosswalks and deliveries at homes with steps or no sidewalks out front.
“I really don’t see what the big deal is,” a commenter wrote. “There are plenty of cyclists, skateboarders and people texting and walking that are a bigger hazard than these.”
Another posted, “We have them at George Mason University. They’re easy to use and sometimes they can be convenient when you don’t want to walk all the way across the huge campus.”
Some key facts about the robots, based on Avride’s website and ARLnow’s conversations with representatives, are summarized below.
- The robots don’t accept tips — that’s part of what differentiates them from human couriers
- They’re programmed to obey all pedestrian traffic laws
- They can operate within a 1-2 mile radius
- Deliveries can’t be easily stolen, since the person who ordered on Uber Eats has to unlock the robots with their phone
- They’re programmed to navigate around pedestrians and bicyclists, and to stop immediately if an unexpected object appears in their path
- If there’s a narrow walkway where the robots would impede the right of way, they’re able to turn around and back out
- They’re sturdy, built to withstand the weight of an adult, if necessary
- When robot delivery is available on Uber Eats, it’s always optional
- The company sees its robots as a complement to existing delivery options
“People are curious,” company spokesperson Yulia Shveyko told ARLnow when the robots launched. “Everyone around is already taking pictures, selfies — and from my experience, it never stops, no matter how long the robots have been operating in the area.”
