Delivery robots crash into bus shelters in Chicago
Two autonomous delivery robots owned by Serve Robotics and Coco Robotics respectively crashed into Chicago bus shelters on consecutive days, shattering glass panels. No injuries were reported, and both companies cleaned up the debris and committed to covering repair costs and investigating the incidents.
What happened
A Serve Robotics delivery robot named 'Nasir' crashed into a glass panel of a CTA bus shelter near West Grand and North Racine in West Town on Sunday, shattering the glass and scattering shards across the sidewalk and atop the robot.
A Coco Robotics delivery robot crashed into a bus shelter at North Avenue and Larrabee Street in Old Town on Tuesday, breaking its glass panel. Both companies stated they were aware of the incidents, responded quickly to clean up, and launched investigations.
Reported impact
No injuries were reported in either crash. Shattered glass was scattered on sidewalks, and residents expressed concern that future incidents could lead to serious harm.
A nearby barber reported that robots collide with and bump into pedestrians regularly in the area. Serve Robotics and Coco stated they are covering the full cost of repairs.
Index analysis
Coco stated the incident was the first collision with a structure in more than one million miles of deliveries and described it as a rare, isolated event. Serve stated the collision was an unusual occurrence, as robots operate autonomously at a top speed of about 5 miles per hour.
Governance controls
Coco's robots are virtually monitored by humans. Both companies committed to addressing safety concerns and learning from the incidents to prevent recurrence.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.