Robot Delivery Firm Accuses Charity of 'Selectively Editing' Collision Videos

Starship Technologies, a robot delivery company, has accused the British disability charity Living Streets of "selectively editing" videos that show its autonomous bots colliding with wheelchair users. The charity had previously released footage in September alleging that the robots were blocking pavements and tripping pedestrians in Leeds, suggesting the firm operated in a "legal grey area."

In response to the campaign video, Starship Technologies compiled data from its robots' cameras and sensors. The company claims this data demonstrates that the robot attempted to alter its route to avoid a collision, but the incident occurred because the wheelchair user accelerated deliberately. Regarding another incident where a robot appeared to block a wheelchair user, Starship maintains its data shows the individual chose to pass on a narrower section of the pavement despite ample space being available.

Living Streets, however, has released the raw footage of the alleged collisions, asserting that the videos were not faked. In one raw clip, a camera operator can be heard expressing surprise at the collision, stating, "Did it hit your legs? I thought it would have stopped." Emily Green, the 18-year-old wheelchair user featured in the video, stated that while Starship claims she moved into the robot's path, dropped kerbs are essential for wheelchair users, and she cannot avoid using them. She emphasized that robots should not take priority over her safety and mobility.

Starship Technologies stated it has reached out to Living Streets to share its data and request a correction. The company has threatened to escalate the matter to the Charity Commission if the charity does not amend its claims. Lisa Johnson, vice-president of Starship, called the campaign video "selectively edited and irresponsible," creating a "misleading impression." She added that the company has completed 11 million deliveries over the past decade without significant issue and that such claims constitute "scaremongering."

A spokesperson for Living Streets countered that while they did not claim the interactions were "serendipitous," they reflected how wheelchair users and blind pedestrians navigate pavements. The charity maintains that delivery robots pose a "significant risk" and operate without clear laws governing their use, sometimes without local authority consent.

Starship Technologies has stated it has been implementing improvements to enhance its robots' interaction with disabled pedestrians. Since April of this year, the robots are reportedly equipped to recognize wheelchairs and other mobility devices, adjusting their driving behavior and engaging human oversight when necessary. If a robot encounters a wheelchair on a narrow path, it is programmed to alert the user that a human operator is taking control and to reverse out of the way.

The company also stated it is working to improve safety for blind pedestrians, although it acknowledges that programming the bots to detect canes has been challenging.

This is not the first time Starship's robot safety has been questioned. In 2023, a robot reportedly rammed into a dog named Pippa and its owner, Brian Dawson, in Milton Keynes. Earlier this year, Starship's robots were removed from Sheffield after a pilot scheme with Uber Eats ended after five months, during which the robots were targets of vandalism and locals complained about them obstructing pedestrians.

Starship Technologies, founded in 2014 by Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, operates six-wheeled, self-driving delivery bots that can carry up to 10kg (22 pounds) and travel at speeds up to 4 mph (6.4 km/h). These robots typically navigate pavements and can manage curbs, operating in various weather conditions.