States legalize smaller delivery robots

Though the US is a great place for robotics R&D, some people have worried about whether regulations could keep up with the pace of innovation. Those for drones have been slowly changing to permit more companies to use the vehicles for commercial purposes. Grounded robots do not pose the same dangers and therefore do not need the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration. This has allowed some states to act more quickly in this area. Florida has now become the fourth state to pass laws legalizing delivery robots.

Earlier this year, Virginia, Idaho and Wisconsin all legislated similar laws. Supporting this law is Starship Technologies, the company perhaps most associated with wheeled delivery robots. It has made the press last year after gaining more partners to try robots that can deliver food and other wares.

Florida's law allows for robots to weigh up to 80 pounds and travel up to 10mph. This is why Starship's lobbying efforts are important. The restrictions on weight and speed might lock out competitors until the regulation becomes more lenient on this issue. Recode reported that Starship already has rivals, including Marble, that make delivery robots weighing more than 80 pounds. Starship is not operating in Florida yet, but is planning a pilot program for later this year.

The good news is that states in the US are being proactive in permitting delivery robots. This should help innovation in this space and hopefully over time the negative aspects of Starship's lobbying efforts will be reversed. The US is still seen as a relatively good place for developing autonomous drones and robots. That is why Airbus started its own drone subsidiary in Atlanta.