Disabled Man Collides with Serve Robotics Delivery Cart in West Hollywood

Incident Overview

• 💥 A disabled man on a mobility scooter and a Serve Robotics delivery cart were involved in a collision.
• 📍 The incident occurred in West Hollywood, an area with a notable presence of these food delivery robots.

Man's Account of the Collision

• 🚶‍♂️ The man, Mark Cheney, claims the robot repeatedly cut him off.
• ↔️ He stated that when he attempted to move right, the robot also moved right, and when he tried to overtake on the left, the robot continued its path.
• 🛑 Cheney alleges the robot then slammed on the brakes, leading to the collision, after which the robot backed into him.

Serve Robotics' Statement

• 🤖 Serve Robotics stated their robots are designed to "navigate respectfully around all people", including those using mobility devices.
• ✋ Regarding this specific incident, the company claims the robot came to a full stop after attempting to yield the right of way, and did not reverse.

Public Reaction and Denial

• 🌐 The video of the encounter has gone viral, garnering 25 million views on social media.
• 🤥 Some online commenters have accused Cheney of staging the crash, a claim he vehemently denies.
• 🤷‍♂️ Cheney asserts he cannot control a robot's actions.

Robot Delivery Landscape

• 🚚 Restaurants in many US cities are increasingly using these robot carts for food delivery.
• 📈 It is estimated that there are as many as 5,000 such robots delivering food nationwide.