Robots at the watercooler, in the supermarket, on the freeway 30 31 Yet San Francisco has also shown a successful drone airline. This certification does not place a of industrial robots worldwide. Now, in preparation way forward: measured coordination between cap on the number of drones that UPS can operate, for hosting the Olympics, government officials and enterprises and the city. After the initial ban, the which means the company has the flexibility robotics experts formed the Tokyo 2020 Robot city developed a permitting program for electric to roll out this technology according to market Project, developing robots that will assist spectators 32 scooters. Lime, Spin and Scoot (now owned by Bird) demands. Additionally, the FAA has granted UPS throughout the Games. The robots will provide were all granted permits and allowed back onto city certification to operate its drones beyond visual visitors with directions and event information, 27 streets in 2019, alongside newcomer JUMP. Also line of sight, meaning UPS’s network will be able and will support people who use wheelchairs. that year, Postmates worked with San Francisco to cover more geography. UPS has partnered with to receive the first permit to test its autonomous WakeMed to bring drone delivery capabilities first to If businesses want to introduce robots to city delivery robot, overturning a blanket 2017 ban on healthcare networks—where the company already streets, they will need to partner with governments 28,29 the devices. There are some limitations—each has experience operating deliveries in African and gauge public sentiment. These partnerships robot must have a human operator within 30 feet countries—and eventually UPS will expand to other may impose limitations and safeguards initially, during all testing, cannot go faster than three miles industries as it gains operational experience. but they are a key ingredient for long-term success. per hour and must stay within a few restricted Continuously engaging with stakeholders will let blocks. Plus, permits are only valid for 180 days. Coordinated public/private efforts also create businesses build critical support and a strong But public/private coordination like this sets a level of trust that encourages local governments foundation for new technologies in the future. everyone up for success in the long term. to not only welcome innovations, but also solicit them. Japan already has a long history with robotics; Look at how UPS is preparing to run a drone delivery in 2017, the country employed approximately fleet. The delivery company has been granted 300,000 industrial robots, the second highest certification from the FAA to run a first-of-its-kind number globally, and supplied nearly 55 percent