Many Cities Are Pushing for Automated Shuttle Transportation. But Will It Work?

From the Mall to Lincoln, Neb., planners across the United States are pushing slow-rolling robot shuttles as a way to dip their toes into greater automation. The stubby, bread-box-looking vehicles go about 10 mph, and boosters say they’re a relatively easy and potentially transformative tool for moving people, even as autonomous cars, trucks, and minivans continue their development and rollout. Others counsel caution, raising concerns about safety, oversight, and economic viability, and fears about adding congestion to roadways and eliminating jobs.