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NAU study looks at the relationship between delivery robots and other sidewalk users

There can be competition for sidewalk space in many areas, between pedestrians, joggers, skateboarders, dog walkers — and, in some places, delivery robots.

New research from Northern Arizona University, where a six-wheeled fleet of these robots has been operating for a few years, shows the routes they take could be a big help in limiting conflicts between the robots and other sidewalk users.

Steve Gehrke is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation at NAU and worked on the study. Gehrke joined The Show to talk about what he and his colleagues found.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.