Uncanny Valley | WIRED Your Delivery Robot Is Here
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Oct 2, 2025 Aarian Marshall, a talented staff writer focused on cities and transportation, dives into the world of delivery robots with the unveiling of DoorDash's new autonomous robot, Dot. She discusses design features like sensors and size, as well as how humans interact with these machines. Aarian highlights the industry's ups and downs, emphasizing new partnerships and hybrid delivery models amid labor impacts. She also explores the challenges delivery robots face on sidewalks and the potential conflicts with bike lanes, making for a thought-provoking conversation.
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Dot's Design Balances Size, Sensors, And Social Cues
- DoorDash's Dot is unusually large and sensor-rich, built to operate on sidewalks, roads, and bike lanes.
- Its design choices aim to balance visibility, perception, and social cues for interacting with pedestrians.
Demo Kick Revealed Human-Robot Tinkering Risks
- Boone kicked Dot during the demo to test its reaction, highlighting real-world human interference risks.
- Companies train robots to avoid children and seek adults because adults are less likely to tamper with them.
Owning Robotics Lets DoorDash Leverage Data And Signal Commitment
- DoorDash wants in-house robotics to leverage its massive delivery data and show control over automation.
- Owning the stack also signals seriousness to investors and potential hires about AI and robotics work.