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Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

blockclubchicago.org

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Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#81

Post by bombcar »

browningstreet wrote: post #80

I’ve lived in coastal tech cities but I’ve never done DoorDash, or Uber eats, or anything by robots. Obviously I’m not the norm with these behaviors but I also don’t understand market demand when I see so many DoorDash vehicles at McDonalds, while the news also talks about how McDonald’s is suffering because they lost the poor income demographic. I also work from home so going and getting my food, in person, is a wel…

People really value convenience.

I’ve tried it a few times but the food is always late, cold, and expensive.

Just the combo I wanted! I fire up my own tank and roll out now if needed.

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#82

Post by exasperaited »

whimsicalism wrote: post #79
itsdesmond wrote: post #15

I live in a Chicago neighborhood where these are in use. They have very bright lights, actually blinding you as you approach one at night. They move much faster than is appropriate on a sidewalk. They position themselves in the middle of the sidewalk as opposed to the right hand side, impacting traffic in both directions. They round corners at intersections at below-eye-level, I’ve walked into more than one when they…

I agree they definitely create a ton of new problems that we will need to figure out, but I think I am simply much much more sympathetic to the fewer drivers argument to the point that I feel like it is still worth doing and figuring out how to fix the details.

Well, if there are fewer drivers then there is room for them on the road isn’t there?

Fewer drivers on the road because the pavements are becoming non-navigable because of robots nearly as wide as pavements does not sound like a benefit for anyone but drivers, and yet again demonstrates how messed up car culture is.

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#83

Post by floxy »

itsdesmond wrote: post #15

I live in a Chicago neighborhood where these are in use. They have very bright lights, actually blinding you as you approach one at night. They move much faster than is appropriate on a sidewalk. They position themselves in the middle of the sidewalk as opposed to the right hand side, impacting traffic in both directions. They round corners at intersections at below-eye-level, I’ve walked into more than one when they…

How far out are we from bi-pedal delivery robots? It wouldn't need to have AGI, just enough senses to keep from falling over, avoiding pedestrians and traversing minor obstacles. Or maybe a quadruped Boston Dyanmics robot?

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#84

Post by bombcar »

adventured wrote: post #36
samlinnfer wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This honestly would be solved quite quickly when the cost of vandalism starts eating into their margins. Once they piss enough people off it becomes self-correcting.

There's no scenario where these delivery bots survive US city sidewalks. They will be hijacked, destroyed/attacked, vandalized heavily. The police will not be able to do anything about it. The business model will not survive the US, unless the companies plan to deploy delivery tanks. It'll thrive in safer cities around the world though.

True democracy is throwing these damn things in the river.

Or maybe you can ride them like a bronco?

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#85

Post by smelendez »

climb_stealth wrote: post #29
crote wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imagine how much better for the environment it'd be if your delivery was brought to you via a human-powered bicycle. Or as an in-between: e-bikes and e-mopeds. Using 2,000lb vehicles for last-mile burrito delivery is a "we've tried nothing and we're all out of ideas" scenario. Delivery robots are an improvement because literally anything is.

God forbid someone would use their own two legs to walk and eat that burrito at the restaurant /s The extend to which some people get food delivered is absurd. I'm sure there exceptions and reasons and everything, but seriously.

It’s a vicious cycle. I’m not a big delivery fan myself but you go into some small casual restaurants now and everyone else in there is a delivery driver.

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#86

Post by bombcar »

trhway wrote: post #53
johnfn wrote: post #33

> “Chicago sidewalks are for people, not delivery robots.” This seems to be a false dichotomy. Isn't it obvious that if there weren't robots, there would be people delivering your food instead? And as a biker, I actually find delivery drivers to be quite dangerous. They are constantly blocking the bike lane, forcing me to drive into traffic -- or they are riding their extremely heavy and fast bikes dangerously throug…

>if you're going to argue that robots are objectively worse, I'm not so sure. Robots are becoming worse. I've been living in Mountain View for more than 2 decades, and Waymo cars have been around for years. They never been an issue until recently. I already wrote how several weeks ago our car was almost front-rammed by a Waymo, we had to swerve to avoid it. And recently i saw, and today was myself cut by a Waymo when…

I’m not certain I’d go out of my way to avoid a collision caused by a robot car owned by a billion dollar company.

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#88

Post by floxy »

adventured wrote: post #36
samlinnfer wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This honestly would be solved quite quickly when the cost of vandalism starts eating into their margins. Once they piss enough people off it becomes self-correcting.

There's no scenario where these delivery bots survive US city sidewalks. They will be hijacked, destroyed/attacked, vandalized heavily. The police will not be able to do anything about it. The business model will not survive the US, unless the companies plan to deploy delivery tanks. It'll thrive in safer cities around the world though.

I guess time will tell, but I think most cities in the U.S. have areas that are affluent / on the "right side of the tracks" where robots could traverse unmolested, and then other lawless no-go areas for robots.

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#89

Post by bombcar »

toast0 wrote: post #74
mmooss wrote: post #50

Are actual delivery people that expensive or that much more expensive than robots? I assume they make minimum wage. The availability, cost of acquisition, and engineering needed for support are much lower; the problem solving and communication are infinitely greater.

You can't get investments to have people deliver food anymore.

This is exactly it. Delivery drivers make minimum wage (or less) but the company makes big money selling stocks.

Re: Delivery robots take over Chicago sidewalks

#90

Post by trhway »

bombcar wrote: post #86
trhway wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>if you're going to argue that robots are objectively worse, I'm not so sure. Robots are becoming worse. I've been living in Mountain View for more than 2 decades, and Waymo cars have been around for years. They never been an issue until recently. I already wrote how several weeks ago our car was almost front-rammed by a Waymo, we had to swerve to avoid it. And recently i saw, and today was myself cut by a Waymo when…

I’m not certain I’d go out of my way to avoid a collision caused by a robot car owned by a billion dollar company.

Instinct. Amygdala evolved way before FANG.
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