Starship robot 'attacks' Milton Keynes resident

Occurred: June 2023

A resident reported being "attacked" by a Starship delivery robot in Milton Keynes, UK, prompting concerns about the safety of the service. 

The robot collided with resident Brian Dawson's dog Pippa, prompting him to lash out at the robot in response. The robot later hit him in his left leg when he was trying to file a complaint. The confrontation led to the robot being described as having "attacked" the resident, highlighting concerns about the safety and behaviour of autonomous delivery machines.

Starship Technologies, the company behind the robot, has faced scrutiny regarding operational safety and liability. The robots, which are designed to navigate sidewalks and deliver groceries, have been involved in several incidents, including previous reports of collisions with pedestrians and pets. 

The Co-op told Dawson that the incident was not their responsibility. Starship stated that they take safety seriously and that additional training is provided to operators to prevent such occurrences. 

Overall, while residents appreciate the convenience of the Starship robots, incidents like this raise questions about their reliability and the potential risks they pose in urban environments.

Operator: Co-op
Developer: Starship Technologies
Country: UK
Sector: Transport/logistics
Purpose: Deliver groceries
Technology: Robotics; Machine learning; Neural network
Issue: Ethics/values; Liability; Safety
Transparency