Cities across the U.S. are quietly welcoming a new kind of public servant: robots.
From Kansas City’s firefighting bot—capable of blasting 2,500 gallons of water a minute while keeping crews out of danger—to Detroit’s beach-cleaning machines and Sanford, North Carolina’s autonomous lawn mowers, municipalities are testing how automation can make public services safer, faster and more efficient, The Wall Street Journal writes.
Historically, cities have lagged behind the private sector in adopting robotics due to high costs, cybersecurity risks and fears of job displacement. But as technology advances and local governments face persistent labor shortages, robots are finding their niche in specific, high-impact roles. The California city of Irvine, for instance, is using inspection bots to accelerate ADA compliance surveys from four years to six months. And in Colorado, Arapahoe Libraries will soon debut a robot concierge to guide visitors through a new coworking space.
Most deployments remain in pilot phases, but experts say they signal the future of “smart cities”—where automation supports overworked staff, improves safety and helps local governments stretch tight budgets without sacrificing service quality.
