Social Acceptance of Autonomous Food Delivery Robots: An Analysis of Public Commentaries

Abstract

Although autonomous delivery robots (ADRs) offer a feasible solution for last-mile delivery, there is still limited research on how individuals outside direct users, such as other road users, community residents, and the public, perceive ADRs. This study aims to understand the social acceptance of ground-based food ADRs used for grocery delivery in Finland, where long distances and harsh winter conditions pose challenges for robotic delivery services. An analysis of publicly available reader comments on news articles about food ADRs revealed four categories of contextual factors related to their use, including aspects of the robots' appearance, operations, and safety and security. This study contributes to our understanding of factors influencing public opinion and social acceptance of service robots and offers practical implications for those designing or deploying autonomous delivery robots.