Rook roams around Burleson on a mission \u2014 and takes selfies along the way.<\/p>\n
The $20,000, 3-foot-tall plastic-covered robot with friendly digital eyes is part of an Americans with Disabilities Act assessment of the city\u2019s sidewalks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Burleson\u2019s study \u2014 in collaboration with engineering, planning and design consulting firm Kimley-Horn \u2014 will identify barriers to access for those using wheelchairs or other support devices. Findings will help guide improvements along 218 miles of city sidewalk corridors, including street crossings and ramps, and 8 miles of paved trails. The Daxbot robots, used by trained technicians, began the field work on Jan. 20. Burleson is the first Texas city to use Daxbots for the mobility assessment, company officials said.<\/p>\n
Errick Thompson, Burleson\u2019s director of public works, said the robots will help the city determine improvements for those who need help navigating along roadways.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis assessment will give Burleson a clear and objective baseline of sidewalk accessibility conditions across the city,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cThis is essential to establishing data-driven priorities for these important improvements for our residents and visitors.<\/p>\n
Rook recently rolled around Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza in downtown Burleson, going up and down sidewalks and ramps. The semiautonomous robot can change its LED eyes to a heart shape and is intended to act as a mobile selfie station for folks it meets along the way. It is one of six robots doing the Burleson assessment.<\/p>\n
The robots move at walking speed to capture accessibility data, including sidewalk slope, travel width, vertical changes and accessibility barriers. That information is used to create an inventory of sidewalk hazards and mobility challenges in the city. Rook can reach a top speed of 3 to 4 miles per hour. The company\u2019s other robots are used for security surveillance and deliveries.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy equipping experienced field technicians with the extensive, detailed measurements collected by the Dax units, we can accurately document conditions at scale and turn findings into comprehensive, practical recommendations,\u201d Brian Shamburger, principal and project manager for Kimley-Horn, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Daxbot, based in Philomath, Oregon, manufactures robots that focus on safety and comfort to help municipalities meet ADA standards. The company recently worked in Southern California among others. Operators monitor the robots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re measuring pathways. They\u2019re looking for obstructions like utility poles,\u201d said Mason Reeves, Daxbot\u2019s security sales lead. \u201cAnything that makes it difficult for somebody with disabilities to traverse the sidewalk safely.\u201d<\/p>\n
The eye expressions are a tool for interaction intended to suggest the Daxbot is a \u201cgood\u201d robot, he said. That\u2019s why selfies with residents are encouraged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey change into happy eyes. They can do heart eyes. They can do cool sunglasses,\u201d Reeves said. \u201cIt\u2019s just to make sure people have a pleasant experience with robots. We\u2019re going to have robots in public spaces, so we want them to be something that\u2019s fun and not scary.\u201d<\/p>\n
People tend to like the robots, Reeves said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids will come up and give him a hug,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople will stop and take pictures and pose for pictures. He\u2019ll lean his head to whoever he\u2019s taking a picture with. \u2026 People tend to take him in as part of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric E. Garcia is senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n