Personal Delivery Device

Personal delivery devices (PDDs) are small autonomous or semi-autonomous robots that travel on sidewalks and pedestrian pathways to deliver food, packages, and other goods. These devices have been granted pedestrian status under traffic code in several US states, giving them the right to use public sidewalks. PDDs pose significant accessibility concerns because they can block curb ramps, crosswalks, and narrow pathways, creating dangerous obstacles for wheelchair users, people who are blind, and others with mobility disabilities. Unlike parked bikes or scooters, PDDs move autonomously with limited public awareness of their behavior, making encounters unpredictable for disabled pedestrians.