Introduction

In an intriguing incident that has captured attention at Arizona State University, a food delivery robot from Starship Technologies struck a school employee last September, leading to an unusual response from the company involved. According to reports from 404 Media, when police were summoned, the injured employee made an unexpected request for the robot's insurance information as well as some promotional discount codes!

Incident Details

The police report revealed that video evidence corroborated the employee's account of the incident. Initially, the employee had been waiting for the delivery robot to pass. However, as they proceeded, the robot unexpectedly reversed, knocking them off balance and then striking them again while on the ground. The aftermath left the person with lower back pain and a significant cut on their arm that required treatment by local emergency services.

Company's Response

Interestingly, a spokesperson for Starship Technologies claimed that the robot was operating at “extremely low speed,” asserting that it had detected an oncoming vehicle prior to the collision. However, the incident has raised eyebrows about the capabilities and safety of autonomous delivery systems.

Previous Incidents

404 Media also highlighted a previous ruckus involving Starship Technologies, where the company initially chose not to press charges against two students accused of stealing one of their robots, only to later change their stance and pursue legal action. This comes amidst ongoing concerns regarding the robots’ navigation skills, which have previously led to problems such as driving into construction sites or wandering off campus.

Expansion of Starship Technologies

Since launching its autonomous delivery trials back in 2016 in Europe, Starship Technologies has rapidly expanded. By 2021, the company achieved a staggering milestone of 1.5 million deliveries across 20 campuses. By the end of 2023, this number surged to a remarkable 50 campuses, and the company announced it had exceeded 6 million autonomous deliveries earlier this year.

Conclusion

While the school employee's situation may seem unfortunate, the idea of receiving insurance details and discounts from a delivery robot adds a bizarre twist to the story. This isn't the first time Starship robots have caused confusion and mishaps; a woman reported being unable to obtain video footage from the company after one of their robots collided with her vehicle, resulting in $2,600 worth of damages. Travelers beware: the next time you cross paths with one of these robotic delivery wonders, you just might find yourself in for a surprise, and who knows, a promo code could be your unexpected compensation!