New Urbanism and the importance of Pedestrian Scale
The article “Great Ocean Explorers, Tobacco, Locomation And A Good Sign For AV Progress” discussed the positive implications of using the concept of convoying for trucks. “Musing About A New AV Profession: Convoy Operator” explored the concept of convoying for automobiles. The beauty of the convoying model is that the use-model for the autonomous trailing entity is significantly simplified and the solution has a higher potential for becoming technically viable. If it works for trucks and cars, how about people ?
Where might something like pedestrian convoying fit in the overall scheme of transportation ?
The article “Rethinking ESG Targets For Companies Like Amazon
Further, if one is to build communities which operate at human scale such as those espoused by architectural ideas such as in New Urbanism, the prospect of a large amount of automobile delivery traffic injecting itself into pedestrian situations is not very attractive. Most importantly, humans desire movement for health and well being. The alternative reminds one of the state of human evolution in a movie such as the Pixar classic movie, WALL-E.
Is there a way to combine these concepts (convoying, delivery, health) ?
How about pedestrian robots that follow humans ?
An obvious use-case would be to build something which could carry enough cargo to accomplish the task of the local grocery trip. For the human, it is a chance to get some exercise and as with trucks and automobiles, the convoying aspect controls the complexity of the technical solution such that it can be made relatively inexpensively. The mass of these objects is such that the safety considerations are not as pronounced as those for automobiles or trucks.
Is there enough infrastructure to support such a concept ? Unlike the situation for cars and trucks, the “Preinvestment Act for Last Mile Delivery Act (PALMDA)” passed presciently by President George HW Bush in 1990 actually sets up an excellent baseline for this use-model. If you have not heard of the PALMDA, you may know it better by its other name — The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The article ““Unintended Consequences, Covid-19, ADA And Autonomous Technology,” explains how the ADA was actually the perfect regulatory structure to enable pedestrian robots in public spaces.
There is a large raft of automated delivery companies such as Nuro or Starship Robots which have varying use-models from street delivery to use of side-walks. However, is there someone doing convoying for pedestrians ? It turns out the answer is yes.
Gita Robot Following Owner
Gita is a two-wheeled, cargo-carrying robotic vehicle developed by Piaggio Fast Forward, a Boston area startup. The robot is powered by electric motors with a battery pack, and carries up to 40 pounds in its cargo bin at speeds of up to 6 mph. The battery provides four hours of continuous operation (useful life is longer with stops) and takes 2 hours to recharge in a conventional wall outlet. The robot is available for a little over $3K.
Sensors and cameras enable it to follow people and avoid obstacles. In fact, gita has to perceive the actions of humans in a manner to predict what they might do in the near future. In this sense, Piaggio Fast Forward is starting to attack many of the issues discussed in “Is Progress In Autonomous Technology Gated By Research In Animal Communication?”
“In the gita robot, we use affordable sensors and rely on our unique in-depth knowledge of how human beings move with one another in the extremely complex environment of a crowded sidewalk,” said Greg Lynn, CEO of Piaggio Fast Forward.
How can a robot which you buy for $3K+ have the level of sophistication to interpret human beings’ intentions in terms of movement and track the “leader” without the need for a beacon?
A good teaser for a future story !
