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Daxbots Circulate in Bangor, Maine, to Map Barriers, Ramps, Crosswalks, and Bus Stops. City Claims Machines Don’t Collect Personal Data and Will Use Information to Plan Accessibility Improvements
Small robots have begun traversing the sidewalks of Bangor, Maine, on an unusual mission: to survey and evaluate approximately 150 miles — about 241 kilometers — of sidewalks to identify conditions and accessibility barriers. The city contracted Daxbot for about US$ 94,000 and claims that the alternative costs significantly less than hiring an engineering firm to conduct the survey, according to information released by the City of Bangor.
The machines analyze sidewalks, access obstacles, ramps, crosswalks, and pedestrian areas, such as public transport stops. The goal is to provide data for Bangor to assess its compliance with standards set by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
However, the presence of small robots in the streets has raised concerns among residents. One of these was particularly sensitive: would these machines be collecting personal information while navigating the city?
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According to the city, the answer is no.
Robots Will Traverse Approximately 241 Kilometers of Sidewalks
The extent of the work helps explain why Bangor decided to test an automated solution.
There are 150 miles of sidewalks, roughly 241 kilometers, that need to be evaluated.
Additionally, it is not enough to simply walk down the streets.
The equipment needs to record information that can show the conditions of the sidewalks and identify potential difficulties for pedestrians.
This includes access barriers, ramps, crosswalks, and public transport points.
Therefore, the city must gather a substantial amount of data before determining where interventions will be necessary.
It is precisely at this point that the robots have gained traction.
Bangor Pays About US$ 94,000 for the Survey
The city contracted Daxbot for approximately US$ 94,000 to perform the job.
According to the municipal government, hiring an engineering firm for the assessment would cost significantly more.
Thus, automation emerged as an alternative to reduce the cost of an extensive and data-intensive survey.
In addition, Bangor claims that the accuracy of the instruments used by Daxbots allows for more precise measurements than those that would be manually compiled by people.
The city also hopes to gain a more comprehensive view of the conditions of its sidewalks.
Thus, the discussion involves not only replacing manual labor with a machine.
The approach combines cost, speed, data volume, and measurement accuracy.
Machines Measure While Continuing to Move
There is an important difference between traditional data collection and that conducted by robots.
In manual fieldwork, it is typically necessary to stop at certain intervals to take measurements.
Daxbots work differently.
As they move along the sidewalk, they take measurements continuously.
Consequently, they can produce a more detailed record of the conditions encountered along the route.
Moreover, according to the city, robotic data collection can produce this survey in less time than the manual process.
In a city with hundreds of kilometers of sidewalks, this difference can add up quickly.
Goal is to Identify Barriers Before Planning Improvements
The project is directly related to the accessibility requirements established by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. federal legislation known by the acronym ADA.
Thus, the robots are not roaming the streets merely to create a conventional map.
They are seeking information to help Bangor understand where pedestrians may encounter obstacles and which points need attention.
Curbs are one example.
Crosswalks represent another.
Additionally, points used by public transportation passengers are also included in the analysis.
Once the data is collected, the city can use it for planning future accessibility interventions.
Therefore, the robots serve as a first step: measure before deciding where to spend money on improvements.
Residents Questioned Whether Robots Collected Personal Information
The arrival of the machines also raised concerns.
After all, small robots equipped with measuring instruments roaming public spaces naturally raise questions about cameras, sensors, and privacy.
For this reason, Bangor decided to publicly address some of the key questions raised by residents.
The city asserts that Daxbots do not collect any private or personal information during their work.
In addition, according to the city administration, the collected data will be used exclusively for city planning.
The city government also states that it will not share this information with external entities.
Thus, the survey is expected to remain focused on assessing pedestrian infrastructure.
Contract Awarded Without Traditional Competition
Another issue raised by the city government concerns the contracting process.
Daxbot was the only company considered for the service.
However, Bangor explains that its purchasing policy allows for waiving competitive bidding under certain circumstances.
This can happen when the city enters into a sole-source contract with a supplier offering a concept or capability deemed unique or innovative and not available from other sources.
In this instance, the contract was approved per these guidelines.
According to the city, contracts of this type are not entirely uncommon.
Bangor approves approximately four or five sole-source contracts per year.
Contracts Up to US$ 250,000 Can Follow a Different Path
The project cost also influences the approval process.
According to the city, contracts between US$ 25,000 and US$ 250,000 can receive approval from the Finance Committee and do not necessarily require a vote from the entire City Council.
Since the Daxbot contract was around US$ 94,000, it falls within this range.
This detail helps explain how the city managed to get the project underway without undergoing a conventional bidding process among different suppliers.
Still, the city’s central justification remains tied to the nature of the technology.
For Bangor, it represents an innovative capability that was not available from other sources within the criteria considered by the administration.
City Will Not Pay If Someone Damages the Robots
There is also a rather peculiar question answered by the city.
What happens if one of the small robots is damaged while traversing the sidewalks?
In that case, Bangor states that it will not be responsible for damages caused to the machines.
The contract establishes that the city will not be liable for damage to the robots.
Moreover, the city administration will not be subject to complaints or actions arising from such potential damages.
Thus, the risk associated with the equipment remains financially outside the city’s responsibility as stated.
City of 31,000 Residents Becomes a Workplace for Small Robots
Bangor has 31,753 residents, according to the city’s own institutional presentation.
Although not a metropolis, the city serves as an important commercial and cultural hub for parts of northern and eastern Maine.
Now, its sidewalks also function as a workplace for an unconventional application of robotics.
Instead of delivering food, carrying goods, or working inside a factory, these devices have a much more discreet task:
measuring sidewalks.
However, the scale turns this seemingly simple activity into a major data collection project.
It involves approximately 241 kilometers of pedestrian infrastructure.
US$ 94,000 Pits Automation Against Traditional Surveying
Bangor’s experience also presents an interesting comparison regarding the advancement of automation.
According to the city hall, using Daxbots will cost significantly less than hiring an engineering firm for the assessment.
At the same time, the administration claims that the machines can gather information that is more precise and detailed.
This occurs in part because the robots do not need to stop repeatedly to take measurements.
They collect data while continuing to move forward.
Consequently, the project places two models side by side:
manual field surveying versus continuous automated collection.
The city hall has already made its choice for the 150 miles of sidewalks.
Now, the data produced will need to show whether the investment of US$ 94,000 will deliver the expected level of detail.
Small Robots Can Help Decide Where the City Will Spend in the Future
The most important outcome of the project will not simply be completing the 241 kilometers.
It will be discovering what Bangor will do with the collected information.
The Daxbots are expected to provide a detailed picture of the conditions of sidewalks, ramps, crossings, barriers, and other points used by pedestrians.
With this, the administration will be able to identify priorities.
Then, it can plan interventions to improve compliance with the ADA accessibility rules.
Therefore, a contract worth approximately US$ 94,000 could influence future infrastructure decisions in various parts of the city.
And it all starts with small robots quietly traversing sidewalks, continuously measuring what previously required teams to stop point by point to record data.
Do you think Brazilian cities should also use robots to map sidewalks and accessibility issues, or should this type of survey continue to be conducted by human teams?
