Robots are working hard: autonomous delivery workers were ordered to give way

Delivery robots are required to give way to pedestrians, cyclists, and cars with special alarms on. At the same time, their mass should not exceed 120 kg, and the maximum speed cannot exceed 25 km / h. In addition, each rover must have insurance similar to CTP. The decree establishing the requirements for such equipment was adopted by the Russian government. The emergence of clear rules and conditions for the operation of robots should have a positive impact on road safety, experts say. Details are in the "Izvestia" material.

In experimental mode

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has signed a decree establishing an experimental legal regime (EPR) for the operation of autonomous delivery robots (rovers) in 34 regions of the country. The document is published on the official Internet portal of legal information. EPR will operate in Bashkiria, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Chuvashia, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm and Primorsky Territories, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and the federal territory "Sirius". The requirements also apply to the Vladimir, Volgograd, Voronezh, Irkutsk, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Leningrad, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Orenburg, Ryazan, Samara, Saratov, Sakhalin, Sverdlovsk, Smolensk, Tver, Tula, Tyumen, Chelyabinsk and Yaroslavl regions.

It is assumed that in the three years during which the EPR will operate, at least 12 thousand rovers will be put into operation, which will fulfill about 10.8 million orders and travel a total of at least 10.8 million km.

Delivery robots themselves must be equipped with cameras and lidars that scan the space at a distance of at least 30 m, a "white head lighting device" in the front, an identification number, a system that automatically ensures compliance with the reduced speed limit introduced in certain zones, as well as an audible signal.

In addition, the delivery robot must be protected by technical means that exclude the possibility of outside interference in its control, have retroreflective elements or illumination on the sides and a red flag with a height of 1 m. If the automatic control system fails, the rover must stop moving. A QR code must be indicated on the case to identify the operator of this device.

Where and how robots can drive

According to the decree, the delivery robot must be no wider than 80 cm and no longer than 110 cm, and its weight without cargo cannot exceed 120 kg. The maximum power of the electric motor can be no more than 4 kW, and the speed can be no higher than 25 km/h.

Robots will be able to work on bike paths, adjacent territories, sidewalks, residential, cycling and pedestrian areas, as well as inside buildings. At the same time, on bike paths and in bike zones, they are allowed to travel at maximum speed, on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones no faster than 10 km/ h, and when crossing the roadway — no higher than 6 km/ h.

At the same time, as follows from the document, pedestrians, cyclists and people using personal mobility aids have an advantage over automatic delivery vehicles — the devices must give way to them. If the robots interfere with pedestrians, then the rovers should slow down to the speed of pedestrians, up to a complete stop.

"Rovers are not allowed to pass through (without unloading or loading) on sidewalks, pedestrian and bicycle paths with a total width of less than 1 m, with the exception of such traffic in pedestrian zones," the government decree says.

Separately, the document sets out the requirements that autonomous deliverymen are required to fulfill when moving the roadway. They can cross the street only at regulated pedestrian crossings, and in their absence — at intersections along sidewalks or roadsides. Such a maneuver must be performed taking into account the traffic light signals.

"The beginning of the intersection of the carriageway <...> is allowed if more than 5 seconds have passed since the moment when the [traffic light] was turned on. or data has been obtained on the remaining duration of the enabling traffic light signal, and this time is sufficient to complete the intersection," the new rules state.

It is noteworthy that if traffic at the crossing is carried out by a traffic controller, then rovers are prohibited from crossing the road. In this case, they are instructed to "leave such a section and choose a different route."

If, for one reason or another, the robot did not manage to cross the street at the green light, then it should stop at the dividing line or the nearest safety island. However, this requirement applies only if the width of such a line or island is at least 80 cm. In all other cases, the rover must complete the maneuver.

"If rovers detect vehicles with flashing lights in blue or blue and red, rovers are obliged to give way to such vehicles, immediately stopping traffic if necessary, ensure unhindered passage of such vehicles, and resume traffic only after such vehicles have fully passed through and there are no obstacles to the rover's further movement," the government decree prescribes..

What will happen in case of an accident

The document sets out requirements not only for the devices themselves, but also for the "EPR subjects" — the operators of this technology. They are required to provide dispatching, maintenance, dispatcher training and liability insurance in the amount of at least 500 thousand rubles for each rover. They are also responsible for damage caused during the operation of equipment, life, health and property of third parties, as well as traffic violations committed by robots.

In the event of an accident involving a rover, the dispatcher is obliged to assess the situation using the cameras equipped with the device, to ensure that a representative of the operator arrives at the scene no later than four hours after the emergency. If there are victims in an accident, the EPR subject must inform "112" service about it and immediately stop the robot before the Traffic police officers arrive at the scene. If there are no injuries, then the rover must be left "in the nearest place safe from the risk of an accident" until the arrival of traffic police.

According to the decree, police officers may not be called in the event of an accident without injuries. But for this, the participants in the incident must comply with certain conditions.

"Participants in an accident have the right to leave the scene without registration of documents about the accident after recording the circumstances of the accident through photo and video recording, if the participants in the accident contacted the subject of the EPR at the phone number indicated in the data included in the QR code <...> and reported no claims against the subject of the EPR," it is stated in the document.

First of all, the adopted resolution, according to Sergey Smirnov, concerns owners and operators of robots. And the actions of drivers in the event of an accident are regulated by the rules of the road.

— A collision with a delivery robot is the same kind of accident, therefore, becoming a participant in such an incident, the driver must be guided precisely by the requirements of traffic regulations. In particular, stop or do not move the vehicle, turn on the alarm system, put up an emergency stop sign and do not move objects related to the incident. The universal advice is to report the incident to 112 in any case and act according to the instructions of the operator," the expert said. "

At the same time, the victim (both the driver whose car was damaged and the pedestrian) as a result of an emergency with a delivery robot, according to him, has the right to expect compensation for damage, since operators are required to insure their civil liability. But the incident must be properly documented, so in such a situation it is necessary to contact the emergency service.

— What you definitely shouldn't do is leave the scene of an accident involving a delivery robot. This can be qualified as leaving the scene of an accident, and it can lead to deprivation of rights for a period of one to one and a half years, or arrest for up to 15 days," the source reminded the editorial staff.

Work for the future

The introduction of an experimental legal regime for rovers is not just a test of a specific technology, but the setting of future rules for a new, active participant in the urban environment, according to the Ministry of Economic Development, which developed the document.

According to Maxim Kolesnikov, First Deputy head of the department, it is important that the experiment covers different regions and scenarios, from megacities to residential areas. And each operating environment has its own characteristics.

"In the future, with successful results, it will be possible not only to scale the service, but also to create a base for improving general regulation, including traffic rules and requirements for the operation of delivery robots. Success here is measured not by the number of robots on the streets, but by how organically and safely they integrate into people's daily lives, to what extent this technology will improve the comfort of residents and provide additional services," the deputy minister stressed.

The signing of the EPR became an important stage for the development of robot delivery in Russia, as rovers become full-fledged road users," said Marat Mavlyutov, head of the "Yandex" robot delivery service department.

— Now they have their rights and duties, responsibilities, and even insurance. The rover follows the same rules as other road users, so its behavior on the sidewalk or pedestrian crossing is easy to predict," he stressed.

Increase security

The emergence of EPR for delivery robots is the legal basis for the full operation of such equipment, said Anton Shaparin, Vice President of the National Automobile Union. The adopted resolution will improve road safety.

— Unlike couriers who deliver orders on electric bicycles and scooters, in cases with rovers, the human factor is excluded. Robots obey the algorithm embedded in them, which, according to the adopted document, provides for speed limits in certain zones, rules for robots to cross the roadway, and other conditions. At the same time, it is extremely important that this decree appeared before, and not after, the mass appearance of such equipment on our streets," the expert told "Izvestia".

Igor Morzharetto, an auto expert and partner at "Autostat", agrees with him. He is also convinced that from a security point of view, order delivery is preferable to robots, whose behavior is predictable and guided by a program embedded in them, which reflects the necessary restrictions and prohibitions.

— The adopted document establishes uniform requirements for the technical equipment of these devices and their characteristics. It is extremely important that the algorithms that these devices must follow are clearly and in detail attributed, as well as the responsibility of their owners and their obligation to take out insurance for this equipment," the specialist emphasized.