RssInstagramTumblrPinterestYouTubeGoogle+TwitterFacebook
SERIOUS WONDER
SERIOUS WONDER
THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY
  • FUTURISTIC NOW
  • TECH
    • NEUROTECH
    • SCIENCE
    • SPACE
  • FUTURE TRENDS
    • FUTURISTIC DESIGN
    • THE FUTURE THIS WEEK
  • ROBOTS
  • TECHNO-PHILOSOPHY
    • TRANSHUMANISM
    • LONGEVITY
    • INFINITE ENIGMA
  • Sci-fi
    • FUTURE-ART
MENU CLOSE back  

Of All the States, Virginia Becomes First to Legalize Delivery Robots

By B.J. Murphy

Present Day

There is no doubt that delivery robots are nearly upon us. It’s no longer a matter of if, but rather a matter of when and by what method. To answer both, the State of Virginia has finally passed legislation allowing delivery robots to operate on sidewalks and crosswalks. This means that, out of all the states throughout the U.S., Virginia is the first to officially legalize robot-enabled delivery services.

Before the state’s governor signed the ruling, Estonian robotics company Starship Technologies helped advise in its written framework. In the ruling, it is stated that the delivery robots are not allowed to travel faster than 10mph, or weigh over 50 lbs. To ensure nothing goes wrong, each delivery robot must maintain constant remote monitoring by the company while it’s operating on the streets of Virginia.

The bill was sponsored by lawmakers Ron Villanueva and Bill DeSteph. It was signed into law last Friday and is to go into effect on July 1.

Near Future

What this entails for the rest of the country is uncertain, but as it would appear, both Idaho and Florida are now moving forward to pass similar legislation as well. In doing so, the U.S. is fast approaching the future of delivery robots. In five years time, this form of delivery will become common practice throughout the country. From both drones in the sky to wheeled robots on the ground, human delivery workers better kiss their job goodbye, because they won’t have a job here soon.

And this should worry legislators and politicians. Not to force them into not allowing robots from taking over delivery services in the workforce; rather to pressure them into making the necessary accommodations for a future of technological unemployment. As robots continue taking over jobs which originally required human labor, these same legislators should also be making strides towards ruling in favor a Universal Basic Income Guarantee.

“We believe our robots will revolutionise local delivery. We see a world where you can send and receive anything you want, anytime and anywhere. Our engineering expertise, combined with our experience of co-founding Skype, is enabling us to turn this into reality.”

– Starship Technologies

FAR FUTURE

Thirty to fifty years from now, robots will become much more than mere delivery laborers for us humans. Sure, they’ll also likely help in delivery transportation, from food to medicine, but then robots will also become much more intellectual than their predecessors. We’re talking about a new robotics class that is far more intelligent than the average human – the emergence of artificial superintelligence (ASI).

With the birth of an ASI, humans will have already made the decision on whether they wish to merge with their fellow robot citizenry or to remain human (and likely go extinct as a result). Keeping pace will be crucial to accommodate the rise of an ASI. If we choose to merge, we will become robots, just as robots become human. We will be one in the same thing, moving forward at an exponential pace, transforming everything we touch, including ourselves.

Photo Credit: Starship Technologies


March 3, 2017By B.J. Murphy

About the author

B.J. Murphy is the Editor and Social Media Manager of Serious Wonder. He is a futurist, philosopher, activist, author and poet. B.J. is an Affiliate Scholar for the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) and an Ambassador for the robotics company Humai.

The First On-Site Residential Home 3D Printed in RussiaCombating Pollution Using Hungry, Hungry Robots

You may also like

The Next Time You See a Worm, Don’t Step On It…It Might Just Be a Robot
June 7, 2017
Why Replace Your Organic Limbs When You Can Have Extra Robotic Limbs Instead?
June 1, 2017
Robot Lands (Simulated) Boeing 737 with One Hand
May 28, 2017
China Wants in on the Giant Fighting Robot Action
May 5, 2017
Holy Shit, the Fluidity in this Avatar Animatronic is Amazing!
April 30, 2017
Giant Robot Duel is a Go, Fight Begins August
April 5, 2017
Subscribe to our Newsletter

LATEST ARTICLES

The Second Amendment and Future of 3D Printing

Second Amendment 2

“Third Thumb” Augmentation Changes the Way we Think of Prosthetics

third thumb dani clode

Smart Drones Find their Way without Human Aid or GPS

drones

AIM: The Future of Healthcare is Driverless, Augmented, and Intelligent

aim 2

Ectogenesis: Crib Designed to Grow Babies Outside the Womb

ectogenesis

Watch Japanese Sumo Robots Break the Internet (and Each Other)

sumo robots

The Future of Retail Will Be Self-Driving

self-driving retail

Memori: Immortalizing Your Thoughts and Memories

memori

Just One CityTree Has the Environmental Benefits of a Forest

citytree

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Real Estate

future of real estate

AI Learns How to Create Human Faces From Scratch

ai face 1

The Next Time You See a Worm, Don’t Step On It…It Might Just Be a Robot

robo worm

Why Replace Your Organic Limbs When You Can Have Extra Robotic Limbs Instead?

extra robotic limbs

SpaceX Rival Successfully Launches 3D-Printed Rocket Into Near-Space

3D-printed rocket

Robot Lands (Simulated) Boeing 737 with One Hand

robot landing

Israeli AI Company Cortica Aims to Give Machines Human-Vision

cortica

Google’s AlphaGo AI Defeats Ke Jie in First of Three Rounds of Go

alphago ai

Jacque Fresco (1916-2017): A Superman for the Future of Humanity

jacque fresco 2

Search and Rescue Drone Software That’ll Save Lives

dronesar software 2

The World’s First Drone Jump is Intense

world's first drone jump

You’ll Never Take Notes in Class the Same Way Again

titan notes

China Wants in on the Giant Fighting Robot Action

china fighting robot

Holy Shit, the Fluidity in this Avatar Animatronic is Amazing!

animatronic avatar

Video of Elon Musk’s Boring Company Presents Future of Transportation

boring

ACCESS: An Emergency River-Crossing Platform

access
TAGS
3D Printing A.I. advanced technology Architecture Artificial Intelligence augmented reality automation Brain Consciousness darpa Design Drones Elon-Musk future future tech Future Technology FUTURE TRENDS futurism Futuristic futuristic architecture Futuristic Design Futuristic technologies futuristic technology google Gray Scott Longevity Mars NASA philosophy Robot Robotics robots Sci-fi Science Science Fiction Space space colonization Space exploration Star Trek Techno-Philosophy Technology the future this week Transhuman Transhumanism Virtual Reality


Advertise Here

  • Home
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Store
  • Podcast
  • Video
  • Contact
  • FUTURISTIC NOW
  • FAQ
  • PRIVACY
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • TERMS OF USE
  • Login
  • FUTURISTIC NOW
Contact

231 10th Ave #5A
NEW YORK , NEW YORK 10011
1.646.233.3535
contact@seriouswonder.com

Advertise With Us

Visit our ADVERTISING PAGE to learn how you can become part of our growing community.

SERIOUS WONDER
© 2015 | www.seriouswonder.com
  • Home
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Store
  • Podcast
  • Video
  • Contact
  • FUTURISTIC NOW
Footer Navigation Col 1
×

SERIOUS WONDER NEWSLETTER 

Enter your name and email below to receive our weekly newsletter.