Vancouver approves six-month delivery robot pilot

Vancouver city council has approved a sixmonth pilot program that will allow food delivery robots to operate on some sidewalks in the downtown and Kitsilano neighbourhoods starting this fall. The program will be run by Serve Robotics, a U.S.based company whose robots are already used in cities such as Los Angeles. Supporters say the robots could reduce emissions because they are electric and could make shortdistance deliveries more efficient. Council members also said the pilot could help the city study how the technology fits with local rules and future planning. Some councillors and experts raised concerns about safety, accessibility, and the impact on delivery workers. They pointed to the need for oversight on crowded sidewalks and said the province will ultimately help determine how these devices can use streets and sidewalks in British Columbia.