Sidewalk delivery devices will soon appear in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood thanks to a collaboration supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Lieutenant Governor Garland Gilchrest II announced that Detroit is one of four U.S. cities to pilot safe delivery technology to help residents shop via small businesses. 

The program, a collaboration between the Office of Future Mobility, the city of Detroit, the Corktown Business Association, Central Station—the Ford Motor Company’s new mobility innovation district in Corktown— and Newlab on the pilot with Kiwibot aims to help businesses meet delivery demands as a result of the pandemic.

“This pilot with Kiwibot builds on our commitment to provide our small businesses with innovative resources to grow and thrive, while providing residents with affordable, equitable access to critical goods like food and medicine,” Gilchrist said in a press release. “Detroit is continuing to lead the way when it comes to inclusive and sustainable urban development as well as mobility technology testing and deployment through projects like Kiwibot.”

The project is part of the Knight Foundation’s efforts to include residents in automation projects in Detroit. Five delivery robots—with a human supervisor—will be available for local businesses to deliver goods to residents in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Miami-Dade County and San Jose.

"People should always be at the center of how these new mobility solutions are being deployed, which is why we're thrilled to support collaborations with Kiwibot in San Jose, Miami, Pittsburgh and Detroit that truly demonstrate the power of resident-informed strategies," said Lilian Coral, director for National Strategy and Technology Innovation at the Knight Foundation said in a press release. "The application of digital technology during the pandemic to facilitate the movement of people and goods has helped shape how cities respond to unprecedented challenges."

So far, Kiwibot has completed over 150,000 robot-led deliveries across the country. The Corktown program will serve as a pilot for possible citywide and statewide delivery solutions for small businesses.
Collaborators are working to ensure this program puts the safety and well-being of residents first and that it will make small business patronage more equitable in Corktown.

“We have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to leverage our vast mobility ecosystem to spur innovative solutions to the challenges presented by the spread of the pandemic and help our community feel safe during this time of need,” Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer of the state of Michigan said. “This collaboration is yet another example of the power of Michigan’s powerful public-private network to bring safe, sustainable and equitable mobility solutions to all residents.”

Want more?

Read the full press release from Lt. Governor Gilchrist's Office.  

Read the Knight Foundation’s press release.