Software glitch causes group of delivery robots to cluster on public walkway

A minor technical error recently caused several sidewalk delivery robots operated by Coco to group together on a Chicago walkway, temporarily blocking pedestrian traffic. The small wheeled devices gathered in one spot instead of continuing along their individual delivery routes.

According to reports shared online, engineers at the company resolved the fleet coordination bug remotely within minutes, enabling the machines to clear the path and resume normal operations quickly. While this specific delay was brief, the incident highlights how automated devices sharing public footpaths can create unexpected physical hurdles for everyday commuters.

As automated delivery services expand across urban centers, cities may need clearer ground rules regarding public space access. If a minor software glitch can cause multiple machines to freeze and block a sidewalk, questions remain about how municipal authorities will ensure walkways stay accessible for wheelchair users and parents with strollers during larger outages.