‘Like Lost Schoolkids’: Delivery Robots Cause Traffic Jam In Russia

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

St. Petersburg: A group of autonomous delivery robots created an unusual traffic jam at a popular pedestrian crossing in St Petersburg, Russia, when several robots converged while attempting to cross the road. The incident, which occurred on September 28, was documented on film and ultimately went viral on social media.

Yandex Lavka's suitcase-sized, six-wheeled robots were seen cautiously strolling across the crossing alongside pedestrians. Several robots appeared to stop or group together, causing a brief ‘traffic jam,’ according to Russian sources. Drivers approaching the crossing came to a standstill to allow the robots to pass safely.

The robots are designed to negotiate metropolitan streets with caution, employing sensors such as lidar and traveling at pedestrian speeds. Yandex has been developing its autonomous delivery service in St Petersburg, with its fleet expected to reach 350 delivery rovers by September 25.

The strange sight elicited amusing replies online. One social media user compared the group to ‘lost schoolkids,’ while another joked that the image depicted the future but that the robots required ‘parent supervision’ to cross the street.

The event emphasizes the increasingly prominent role of autonomous delivery robots in Russian cities, where their expanding presence has spurred debate over how they interact with pedestrians and urban traffic.

 Photo Credits: X