Allowed on sidewalks, South Korean delivery robots poised to take off

Companies rush to perfect 'last mile' performance in wake of legal changes

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South Korean food delivery giant Woowa Brothers tests an automated delivery robot at an apartment complex on the outskirts of Seoul. (Photo by Kotaro Hosokawa)

KOTARO HOSOKAWA, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- With delivery robots now allowed to use sidewalks in South Korea, companies are racing to resolve issues related to the last mile of delivery to bring goods to the customer's door.

Earlier, delivery robots were classified as vehicles under the law and could not travel on sidewalks. Legislative changes to lift the ban took effect by November, enabling robots certified for safety to operate on sidewalks.

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