Experiences from urban freight logistics robots and an outlook towards Finland

Urban freight logistics robots – how do we prepare our cities and create sustainable business models?

Welcome to Drive Sweden’s digital thematic meeting on October 9! Delivery robots on public streets are no longer a future scenario—they are here and now. But how do we integrate urban logistics robots into public spaces and transport systems in a safe, sustainable, and commercially viable way? What permits and regulations are required, and what can Swedish municipalities learn from international experiences? What are the challenges, and what are the opportunities?

During this thematic meeting, we will delve into insights from two Drive Sweden projects: delivery robots on public streets in Stockholm in collaboration with Starship, and the neighbourhood robot HelsingBotica in Helsingborg. Furthermore, we draw on experiences and insights from the pioneering country of Finland.

Hear reflections from project representatives and join the subsequent discussion, where we will cover everything from technology and business models to permits and urban planning—viewed from the perspectives of users, the general public, operators, and the public sector.

Following the presentations, we will move into breakout sessions where participants can explore the following themes in greater depth:

• Permits and regulations, data sharing, and monitoring
• Win-win for cities and operators – responsibilities, benefits, business models, and scalability for last-mile deliveries
• Urban planning for robots in public spaces – the citizen perspective, acceptance, and accessibility

Presenters

• Eevi Heikkinen, Starship Technologies (in English)
• Heikki Palomäki, Helsingfors Stad (in English)
• Hannah Pelikan, Linköpings Universitet
• Linda Bermin, Helsingborg Stad
• Johanna Löfblom, Stockholms Stad
• Niklas Arvidsson, VTI
• Robert Ståhl, Transportstyrelsen