Delivery Robot Strikes Woman at Arizona State University
In a startling incident at Arizona State University, a Starship delivery robot collided with a woman near a campus parking garage. The autonomous robot, designed for food deliveries, unexpectedly changed direction, causing the collision.
Eyewitnesses reported that the woman was waiting for the robot to pass before crossing when it suddenly reversed, striking her and causing her to fall. The robot’s erratic behavior continued as it nearly collided with her again after a second reversal.
The victim sustained visible injuries, including a four-inch gash on her left arm and complained of lower back pain. She also experienced difficulty walking following the incident. Safety concerns have been raised, particularly regarding the potential severity of injuries if the victim had been elderly.
Video footage of the incident confirmed the robot’s unpredictable behavior, which occurred without any apparent cause. In a concerning development, the robot was also seen nearly running into the path of a vehicle entering the parking garage.
Starship Technologies, the company behind the delivery robots, responded to the incident by offering promo codes for its food delivery service as compensation. This gesture has been criticized as inadequate and potentially insensitive given the nature of the incident.
The company’s practices have come under scrutiny, with reports indicating that Starship instructs campus police to contact them first for incident investigations. A previous incident involving drunk students taking a robot initially went unprosecuted but later resulted in felony theft charges.
In a statement, Starship requested the victim’s contact information to provide insurance details and promo codes. The company declined to comment on the robot’s sudden change in direction but emphasized that safety is their top priority and that the incident was thoroughly investigated.
This incident raises questions about the safety and reliability of autonomous delivery robots on college campuses and in urban environments. As the use of such technology continues to expand, incidents like this underscore the need for robust safety measures and clear protocols for handling accidents involving autonomous devices.
