Not long ago, a small wheeled robot trundling down a sidewalk was an occasion for delight. For many, the robots were cute, they were harmless, and they felt like a glimpse of a friendlier future. The tone has changed from wonder to annoyance — sometimes to outright hostility. What happened? 

After years of crying "revolution," the industry has trained exactly the people who need to prepare for robotaxis—municipal officials, traffic engineers, urban planners—to stop listening. Like the classical fairy tale of Peter who cried "wolf" too many times, cities may no longer be listening now that the risks are real.

The successful integration of public-area mobile robots (PMRs) into urban environments depends fundamentally on understanding their relationship with urban planning. While technological capabilities and regulatory frameworks matter, the physical, spatial, and institutional infrastructure of cities ultimately determines PMR operational effectiveness.

The Urban Robotics Foundation (URF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Beck as its new Head of Urban Planning.