Robot Sidewalk Inspectors Are Rolling Through Tyler

Most people agree that more sidewalks in Tyler would be great. So, it’s encouraging to hear that Tyler will be rolling out robot tech to assess sidewalk accessibility.

According to the City of Tyler website, the project will assess sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure throughout the city. Beginning June 10, a robot known as Daxbot will work with Kimley-Horn to collect accessibility information for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way and trails in Tyler. This work will support the City’s ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan.

What Is Daxbot and How Does It Work?

Daxbot is designed to prioritize human safety and will automatically yield to people. The city wants to remind all citizens that data collected is limited to pedestrian infrastructure, and the robots do not store any personal information.

READ MORE: Take A Walk! Walk These 12 Trails Around Tyler, Texas

How Much of Tyler Will Be Surveyed?

The goal is to document existing conditions of pedestrian facilities and identify barriers to access in the public right-of-way. The total area where information will be collected is approximately 94.5 miles of sidewalks and trails. It will also collect data on 122 signalized intersections and 59 transit stops.

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What Residents Should Know About the Robots

Daxbot will deploy six to eight robots at a time operating only during daylight hours, and they will be out seven days a week. Citizens are welcome to take a robot selfie if they see a unit around town but please allow the unit to keep working without obstruction.

Once a robot has collected the data, it will enter standby mode. Which means it will upload data and wait for its next assignment. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with the unit.