Chicago Food Delivery Robots Continue to Leave Residents Divided

Sidewalk delivery robots have become a common sight across parts of Chicago, rolling past pedestrians in neighborhoods from the West Loop to Lincoln Park. Operated by Los Angeles-based companies Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics, the four-wheeled devices carry meals from local restaurants directly to customers’ doors. The city approved a pilot program in 2022, allowing the companies to test the technology under a temporary permit.

Coco launched in Chicago in late 2024, while Serve began operating its fleet in September 2025. Each company now runs 50 robots across multiple North and West Side neighborhoods. The devices travel at pedestrian pace, up to about 5 miles per hour, and are monitored remotely by human operators who can step in if problems arise. Restaurants load orders into locked compartments before the robots set off on their routes.

As their footprint has expanded, so has public debate. Supporters describe the robots as efficient, low-emission tools that reduce short car trips. Critics say they crowd already narrow sidewalks and raise concerns about accessibility and safety. The discussion has moved from curiosity to policy, with city leaders and residents weighing what role, if any, the machines should play in Chicago’s future

How the Robots Work and Where They Operate

The robots function as small, self-driving couriers equipped with cameras and sensors that help them navigate around pedestrians and obstacles. A restaurant employee places the order inside, and the robot travels to the customer while being monitored in real time by a remote human supervisor. If needed, the operator can intervene. The units intentionally slow in congested areas and are capped at 5 miles per hour.

Coco’s 50 robots operate in neighborhoods including Fulton Market, the West Loop, River West, the Loop, South Loop and Greektown. Serve’s fleet covers 14 neighborhoods, among them Austin, Lake View, Lincoln Park, Logan Square and West Town. Customers ordering through Uber Eats, DoorDash or DashMart can select robot delivery where available, or opt out entirely. The robots do not accept tips.

Both companies say their devices are built to handle Chicago winters, though at least one robot was documented getting stuck in snow. The city has also created a 311 category for residents to submit feedback about the machines. The pilot program is set to expire in May 2027 unless City Council approves a permanent permit.

Residents Push Back as Expansion Plans Stall

For some residents, initial curiosity has given way to frustration. Lincoln Park resident Ainsley Harris told WBEZ Chicago that while the robots first struck her as “kind of cute,” she grew uneasy as their numbers increased on narrow sidewalks. As a parent navigating with a stroller, a dog and a child on a bike, she said the added traffic requires extra vigilance. “The more time that I spent with them, and the more close contact I had with them … the more I began to kind of sour on them,” Harris said.

Her neighbor, Josh Robertson, launched a petition calling on the city to pause the program until safety findings are released and clearer rules are established. The petition has gathered more than 3,400 signatures from over 50 ZIP codes. Robertson has also collected hundreds of incident reports from residents describing collisions, injuries and blocked sidewalks.

In the 1st Ward, Ald. Daniel La Spata surveyed constituents and found that more than 83 percent of respondents strongly opposed expanding robot operations, as reported by Block Club Chicago. Following a community meeting, he announced that neither Coco nor Serve would be allowed to expand further in the ward, though existing limited operations could continue. “That doesn’t sound like a maybe,” La Spata said, signaling firm resistance to growth in his district.

Businesses and Companies See Opportunity

The companies behind the robots argue that the technology fills a practical gap in urban delivery. Yariel Diaz, Serve’s director of government affairs, told WBEZ Chicago that the robots help complete short-distance deliveries “within that last mile to mile and a half” that are often declined by human drivers. “It is an option for the consumer,” Diaz said. “It is not a mandate.”

Coco’s vice president and head of government relations, Carl Hansen, has said the robots are designed to support restaurants by reducing congestion, lowering delivery costs and smoothing peak demand. On Serve’s website, the company states that focusing robots on short trips allows human couriers to concentrate on higher-value deliveries and keeps restaurants focused on in-store service. The companies also note that robot operations create jobs in remote monitoring, fleet management and maintenance.

Not all couriers are convinced. Efrain Berrocal, a courier and dispatch coordinator at Chicago-based Cut Cats, also told the outlet that he could see robots becoming a larger issue if third-party apps expand their fleets. His company markets itself as a local, human-centered alternative, emphasizing the role of cyclists in the delivery process. As the 2027 permit deadline approaches, Chicago’s debate over sidewalk robots continues, with questions about access, safety and the future of urban delivery still unsettled.