What happens when a person who is blind or has a visual impairment encounters a robot?
Sonic sensors and computer imaging assist the robots in identifying individuals who are in the vicinity of the devices. Regardless of whether or not an individual has visible disabilities, our robots are programmed to avoid pedestrians and to stop if an object appears in front of it, as well as slow down if an object is alongside of it. If a robot comes to a stop, for any reason, a remote assistant is notified, who can take control of the robot and navigate it, using low-resolution cameras.
In addition, Starship has created pre-defined pick-up points to help visually impaired customers to order food to a fixed location.
As part of the company’s efforts in this regard, Starship proactively engages advocacy organizations that work with the visually-impaired community.