City of Hoboken announces Delivery Robot Pilot Program in partnerships with Coco Robotics and Avride

The City of Hoboken today announced a 12-month pilot program for delivery robots in partnership with Coco Robotics and Avride. The pilot, approved by the Hoboken City Council, will analyze how low-speed, electric delivery robots (also known as Personal Delivery Devices or "PDDs") can support local businesses and residents while helping reduce vehicle trips, congestion, and double parking.

The limited pilot will start with 20 robots - 10 from Coco and 10 from Avride - and may only increase with the City's approval. They will operate in designated areas, beginning with a small zone within the First Ward before expanding to other areas of the city. The robots will initially operate seven days a week on a limited schedule with local personnel responsible for deployment, maintenance, charging, and field response.

The pilot, which is anticipated to launch on Sept. 3, will allow the City to evaluate whether low-speed, electric robotic devices can provide an additional option for local deliveries while improving the safety and efficiency of food delivery operations in Hoboken. The program will support local jobs with Coco and Avride in robot operations, maintenance, charging, and field response, while providing the City with data on deliveries, miles traveled, emissions avoided, pedestrian access, as well as community feedback.

"This carefully structured pilot gives Hoboken an opportunity to support our local businesses and responsibly test a different approach to local deliveries while prioritizing pedestrian safety, accessibility, sustainability, and accountability," said Mayor Jabbour. "I look forward to hearing residents and the business community's feedback as we work to utilize all the information we gather to determine whether this technology can be a positive addition to our city."

"This is what good government looks like: working together, putting safety first, and thinking ahead," said First Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano. "We are putting in responsible guardrails before the delivery robot pilot launches, with a channel for resident feedback built in from day one. I am pleased Mayor Jabbour and I collaborated to ensure we took a proactive approach to this new technology in our city."  

The delivery robots are designed to operate at pedestrian speeds, with a maximum speed of 6 mph and an average operating speed of approximately 2 mph. The robots are designed to yield to pedestrians and other sidewalk users at all times and are designed to slow down, stop, or reroute when necessary. Operations will be limited and subject to no-go zones, including parks and other locations. Coco and Avride will park the robots in areas without heavy pedestrian traffic and move them off-street overnight.

Residents will be able to access robotic food delivery through the same apps they already use to order from local restaurants and businesses. When placing an order through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub/Wonder, customers may be able to select Coco or Avride as a delivery option if the business is participating in the program. If available for the order and delivery location, the customer can select robotic delivery at checkout, track the order through the app, and receive instructions when the robot arrives for pickup. Both businesses and customers will also have the ability to decline food deliveries by robot.

"We've seen across the cities where we operate, including right next door in Jersey City, how autonomous delivery can help local businesses get orders to customers more efficiently and reliably," said Carl Hansen, VP, Head of Government Relations at Coco Robotics. "We're excited to bring Coco to Hoboken and expand access to a new way of delivering food and goods throughout the community. We appreciate the City of Hoboken's partnership and look forward to bringing Coco to the community."

"Having successfully operated in cities across the country including Dallas, Austin, Philadelphia, Jersey City, Arlington and Miami, we've seen firsthand the tangible benefits autonomous delivery brings to residents and local businesses alike," said Brett Swanson, Head of Government Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Avride. "It makes everyday delivery more affordable, helps merchants keep pace with growing demand, and expands options for consumers. We are confident that working together will bring lasting value to local communities."

The Coco and Avride robots use a combination of lidar, ultrasonic sensors, cameras, GPS positioning, and other automated safety systems to navigate their surroundings and identify pedestrians, vehicles, pets and sidewalk obstructions. The Coco robots will also operate under continuous remote supervision to allow trained operators to intervene when necessary. The Coco and Avride robots also operate in cities like Jersey City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Helsinki, Atlanta, Austin, and Los Angeles, among others.

Privacy is also a component of the pilot. The robots' cameras support navigation and safety only, and no personal information will be recorded. Faces and license plates are automatically blurred.

The pilot is also expected to provide economic and operational benefits to Hoboken. The delivery platform will give local restaurants, retailers, and other businesses another option for last-mile delivery and the program will create opportunities for local hiring in operations and maintenance, including deployment, charging, maintenance, and field response positions.

The 12-month pilot, in which the City will receive approximately $6,000 in revenue, will allow the City to evaluate the service across different seasons and operating conditions while gathering feedback from residents, businesses, and other community stakeholders. In the coming days, the pop-up information sessions hosted by each provider to begin gathering community feedback will be announced as will an FAQ page about the program.

At the end of the pilot period, the City will review the program's performance, safety record, infrastructure data collected, as well as community feedback to determine any next steps.

For more information on Hoboken's laws about delivery robots, CLICK HERE.