Daxbot robots have been mapping Burleson’s sidewalks to assist in the city’s ADA transition plan. Here’s what to know.
In January, Burleson began mapping the city to assist in its ADA transition plan, which was created to provide residents and visitors with a safer, more accessible way of getting around. Over 200 miles of sidewalks need to be assessed to determine where any potential obstructions lie that would create navigational barriers for people with disabilities. Aiding in this effort is the Oregon-based company Daxbot. Its website reads, “Putting Robots in the Service of Humanity,” and that’s exactly what’s being done in Burleson.
Daxbot’s robots have been covering between six and seven miles of sidewalk each day to collect valuable data for the city’s ADA plan. Errick Thompson, who serves as the Director of Public Works, said the robots are able to do this more quickly, efficiently, and precisely than a team of humans would be able to. “We want to make sure Burleson is a very walkable community for everybody. So, this is a huge input into helping us develop that plan,” he told NBC 5. Mason Reeves, who works for Daxbot, said the technology used by the robots is pretty straightforward.
When referring to one of the machines currently working its way through Burleson—whose name is Rook—Reeves said, “So he’s going down all of the city sidewalks, taking pictures and measurements of all of the sidewalk slabs, paths, looking for things like uplifts, cracks, tripping hazards, obstructions, anything that would make it difficult for somebody with disabilities to safely navigate their sidewalks.” The data that Rook and its fellow robots are collecting will then help the city roll out construction projects geared toward improving walkability.
It was originally estimated that the robots would be around for about a month. Since they were first introduced toward the end of January, they’ll likely only be seen zooming down the sidewalk for a few more days.
Residents have raised privacy concerns over the robots’ presence
Given that the Daxbot robots are equipped with sensors and cameras to complete their sidewalk mapping, residents have understandably expressed privacy concerns over the last few weeks. Errick Thompson told NBC 5 that while this is valid, the machines are only programmed to pay attention to the task at hand. “They are really focused on the pathway that they are walking. We wouldn’t be collecting any video from anyone’s house, or in their window, or even their front yards basically,” he said.
Mason Reeves added another layer of assurance by saying that only data related to the city’s sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks are kept. While operators have access to the robots’ audio and video functions to make sure everything is running smoothly, they don’t save any of that information. Daxbot’s VP of Sales, Andy Craig, also emphasized that the company’s value “is accuracy and efficiency at a large scale,” and that all it’s doing is creating “an accurate field record” to make “it easier to prioritize fixes, estimate costs, and coordinate next steps” for Burleson’s ADA plan.
The city’s website notes that the robots are completely safe to be around because they move at walking speed and are equipped with avoidance systems and collision detection to prevent themselves from running into people and pets.
