Enthusiastic lawmakers send ‘personal delivery robots’ bill to governor

Idaho lawmakers are enthusiastic about the prospect of “personal delivery robots” rolling along sidewalks in the state, with the Senate voting unanimously today to approve legislation allowing them. The bill, HB 204 , earlier passed the House with just three “no” votes; it has 20 legislative co-sponsors from both parties.

Starship Technologies Inc. has been developing the delivery robots, which can carry two bags of groceries; they’re already operating in Europe and in Washington, D.C. and Redwood City, Calif. They only run on sidewalks and crosswalks. The bill adds the delivery robots to exceptions that now allow motorized wheelchairs and Segways to travel on Idaho sidewalks; it now moves to the governor’s desk.