SOURCE: GEEK WIRE

Autonomous delivery robots will soon be allowed on Washington state’s sidewalks.

On Tuesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law that establishes new regulations for “personal delivery devices” like the delivery robot Amazon unveiled earlier this year.

Starship Technologies — an Estonia-based company started by Skype’s co-founders — builds delivery robots like the ones Washington just greenlit. Starship worked closely with Washington state lawmakers on the legislation so perhaps it’s fitting that one of the company’s robots delivered the bill to Inslee.

“Thank you starship … but I can assure you, their technology will never replace the Washington state legislature,” Inslee said before signing the bill.

Under the new regulations, the devices:

• Can’t travel faster than six miles per hour
• Can’t exceed 120 pounds before they’re loaded up with items to deliver
• Can only cross the street at crosswalks
• Can be tracked with a unique ID number
• Must be monitored and controlled by an operator
• Must belong to a business with an insurance policy that covers liability of at least $100,000
• Must yield to pedestrians and bikes
• Must have effective brakes and lights

In January, Amazon began testing its own delivery robot in Snohomish County, Wash., near the company’s Seattle headquarters. The so-called “Scout” device looks a bit like a cooler on wheels and travels down sidewalks at a walking pace. Amazon partnered with the county on the pilot. Today’s news allows devices like Scout to operate statewide.

READ MORE…