Public-area mobile robots: Economic Impacts and Municipal Readiness

This presentation explores the Urban Robotics Foundation’s work bridging the critical gap between innovation and implementation of public-area mobile robots (PMRs). As ground-based autonomous systems operating in dynamic, semi-structured environments, PMRs represent the third evolutionary wave in mobile robotics following industrial (1985) and warehouse (2000) applications. Despite technological readiness, PMRs remain confined to small deployments and trials due to regulatory, infrastructural, and social integration challenges. The talk outlines URF’s multifaceted approach through ISO standards development, municipal guidebooks, and stakeholder collaboration to prepare cities for safe, accessible PMR deployment. Key considerations include traffic management, accessibility, social integration, and urban livability as robot density increases. The presentation emphasizes that successful PMR integration as a critical element of urban infrastructure for economic development requires balancing technological innovation with regulatory frameworks—illustrated by URF’s principle: “Without standards, no industry; without regulations, no deployment.” This collaborative approach helps municipalities realize PMRs’ potential benefits while addressing complex challenges of integrating autonomous systems into public spaces.