Contrary to one some urbanists believe, some of the advancements of the new economy might better serve less dense, even suburban, environments. Example: a delivery robot created by the co-founders of Skype.
John Markoff provides a dispatch from the front lines of the automated economy in Menlo Park, California, where entrepreneurs he recently witnessed the debut of a robot capable of autonomous navigation, designed to solve the "last mile" problem familiar to planners: "getting goods like groceries, drugstore items and most small packages to suburban homes."
As self-driving cars and delivery services continue their quick ascent in the popular consciousness, products like this robot created by Starship Technologies with finding from Skype co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis, could join the two in futuristic synchronicity.
"Their task is simpler than the one facing designers of self-driving cars, because if something goes wrong, the Starship robot is much less likely to cause harm. While Amazon and Google are pursuing the idea of using airborne drones to deliver packages in urban areas, Mr. Heinla, who serves as the chief technology officer for Starship, believes his ground-based approach is more practical."
Markoff's explanation of the business model that rides on the success of this robot includes one critical distinction: "The system is not intended for crowded urban environments….Rather it is targeted for relatively affluent and uncrowded suburban neighborhoods, gated communities, assisted living facilities and campuses, where it will travel on sidewalks, programmed to mingle freely with pedestrians, bicyclists and cars."
FULL STORY: Skype Founders Build a Robot for Suburban Streets
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
The Paradox of American Housing
How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan
Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.
How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities
Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.
Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing
Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.