The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced its commitment to invest in research aimed at exploring the implications of introducing “autonomous pavement delivery robots” to the lives of UK residents and businesses. Jesse Norman, a technology minister within the DfT, acknowledges the potential advantages of such technology while remaining vigilant about the potential risks it could pose to pedestrians and current road users.
In response to a written parliamentary question from fellow Conservative MP Ben Everitt, who inquired about the DfT’s plans to support the adoption of autonomous pavement delivery robots, Norman emphasized the need to strike a balance between the safety of pedestrians and vulnerable road users and the promising benefits of this innovative technology. He confirmed that the DfT would allocate funding to conduct in-depth research to gain a better understanding of the impacts of this emerging technology. The findings will be made public once the research is completed.
Ben Everitt has been a vocal advocate of automated delivery bots and represents Milton Keynes, one of the pioneering towns in the UK to embrace these devices. During a Westminster Hall debate earlier in the year, Everitt envisioned a future where autonomous delivery robots become an integral part of our daily lives, stating, “If we fast forward 20, 30, or 40 years, autonomous delivery robots will be ubiquitous, residing in our homes, roaming our streets, and serving us online—robots seamlessly integrated into every facet of our lives.“
However, other participants in the debate raised concerns about the legal aspects of these robots’ operations. SNP MP and Transport Committee member Gavin Newlands disclosed that senior executives from tech company Starship, whose delivery robots are already active in Milton Keynes and several UK cities, had admitted to the committee that they were operating in a regulatory gray area. Newlands pointed out the ambiguity surrounding the legality of these robots using pavements instead of roads, drawing parallels with the ongoing challenges of regulating electric scooters. He suggested that establishing a clear regulatory and legislative framework would be imperative if autonomous deliveries were to become a common practice, ensuring they operate within defined constraints and undergo proper licensing procedures.
