Overview
- A homeowner’s video that has drawn hundreds of thousands of views shows more than a dozen Coco autonomous delivery robots clustering and obstructing a Lincoln Park sidewalk while some machines flashed lights and spun in place.
- Coco Robotics apologized and called the event a "sidewalk deployment error," saying several robots were rerouted at once, the cluster was cleared within minutes, and new safeguards were added to prevent a repeat.
- The incident adds to earlier documented problems in the pilot program, including robots hitting CTA bus shelters and falling down station stairs, which companies reimbursed for and adjusted robot behavior after those crashes.
- Neighbors and disability advocates have complained about robots blocking paths, recording people with onboard cameras, and replacing delivery jobs, leading to petitions and aldermanic limits in some wards.
- Despite the backlash, Chicago’s multi-year pilot continues to expand in parts of the city with Serve Robotics expected to start service on the South Side and local elected officials using surveys and approvals to shape where robots are allowed.