The Core

Why We Are Here => Water Cooler => Topic started by: Brad on September 26, 2022, 04:58:20 PM

Title: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: Brad on September 26, 2022, 04:58:20 PM
Study: ‘Pedestrian Delivery Robots’ Have a Lot of the Same Challenges As … Pedestrians

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2022/09/26/study-pedestrian-delivery-robots-have-a-lot-of-the-same-challenges-as-pedestrians/

Frankly they need an all terrain delivery bot.

Also:

Quote
The researchers initially hoped to use the bots to help small businesses establish a low-cost delivery service — a particularly urgent concern during the first year of the pandemic, when the pilot took place — but found that some struggled to integrate the technology into their workflow because they didn’t even have websites, much less an ordering platform that could integrate seamlessly with cutting-edge tech.

No website.  FB does not count. 
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: ergophobe on September 26, 2022, 07:18:19 PM
I'm surprised how often I come across small businesses that have *abandoned* websites and have transitioned entirely to Facebook for their public presence. And have a @bigcompany.com email address.
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: rcjordan on September 26, 2022, 10:55:32 PM
>transitioned entirely to Facebook

It makes sense ...for now.  For many lines of business that only need brochureware or today's Blue Plate Special, that's where all the traffic is.  As we were in the final stages of winding down the real estate company I redirected the domain to Louise's FB page. And, yep, I kept the email @bigcompany.com.

>that's where all the traffic is

Have you looked at Craigslist lately?  In my region, which includes a cluster of VA cities with a population of approx 5-6M, CL is an emaciated shell of its former self.  FB Marketplace is where all the action is ...for now. And the UI and listing search *really* suck by comparison to CL.
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: Travoli on September 27, 2022, 02:36:29 AM
>>transitioned entirely to Facebook
I'm seeing TONS of this, too.

Zuck has copied all the successful social site features. I don't understand why he doesn't have teams copy Shopify's ecommerce features, Open Table's reservation system, Viator's booking features... and promptly dominate small-medium biz. Think of all the advantages FB would have by combining retail/reservations/bookings with the giant social and advertising platform. Half the feed could include "buy now" and "book now" buttons.

Also, if FB marketplace weren't such an afterthought, it could be an ebay killer.

Anyway back the title topic.. Austin has food delivery robots downtown. So far, they still have human babysitters.
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2022, 02:41:49 AM
>Austin has

Some company was planning to launch delivery bots in Detroit.  I'm waiting to see the pix of them up on blocks with the wheels missing.
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: rcjordan on September 27, 2022, 02:49:06 AM
+

Food Delivery Robot Casually Drives Under Police Tape, Through Active Crime Scene
https://www.vice.com/en/article/93adae/food-delivery-robot-casually-drives-under-police-tape-through-active-crime-scene
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: Brad on September 27, 2022, 09:41:36 AM
> Detroit

I think Detroit was one of the six test cities in the original article.

In cities, so may buildings have been torn down they look more like a post war landscape of vacant lots that may not even have their sidewalks anymore.  You see dirt paths worn through the weeds by pedestrians.  We tore everything down because of cars and made it unwalkable.
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: rcjordan on November 02, 2022, 11:53:34 PM
Well, there goes lunch.

https://old.reddit.com/r/trains/comments/yjtsm6/well_there_goes_lunch/
Title: Re: Pedestrian Delivery Robots vs. American Sidewalks
Post by: ergophobe on November 03, 2022, 05:12:56 AM
Nice lithium battery fire gives a preview of what it will be like when trains hit EVs