LA's Delivery Robots Divide Residents as City Expands the Fleet

Los Angeles is expanding the use of autonomous delivery robots from Serve Robotics and Coco Robotics to hundreds of neighborhoods, sparking mixed reactions from residents and businesses who find them disruptive on crowded sidewalks but view them as nonpolluting and potentially safer. The expansion raises concerns about pedestrian flow and job losses for drivers, while researchers propose a 'robotability score' to guide placement and minimize conflicts as cities balance innovation with sidewalk accessibility.