VIDEO: Dax The Robot Fields Reporter's Questions About Hoboken Sidewalk Safety

HOBOKEN, NJ — Anyone who does a fair bit of walking through Hoboken has seen impediments in the sidewalks — a pair of uneven blocks or a tree growing right through the middle. Hoboken began using a fleet of robots on Monday to survey the sidewalks and pedestrian infrastructure, in order to determine how to make the city more accessible.

The city will use the data to update their Accessibility Action Plan and Vision Zero Action Plan, the latter of which is designed to prevent traffic deaths. Hoboken has gone nine years without a pedestrian traffic death on its streets.

Daxbot robots, designed by an Oregon-based company, are collecting information about accessibility, curb ramps, push buttons for pedestrian signals, crosswalks, and park pathways, the city says.

Hoboken Patch encountered one of the robots on Wednesday afternoon and conducted an exclusive interview, which you can watch here:

Dax repeatedly declined to comment, and in a final snub, moved toward the crosswalk.

However, the city says the robots will be collecting data throughout the mile-square city for around a month.

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The city is also launching a public accessibility survey for residents, city staff, businesses and community organizations. The survey is scheduled to close on July 23.

Mayor Emily Jabbour said, “By combining innovative technology like Daxbot with feedback from residents and guidance from accessibility advocates, we'll better understand where improvements are needed and develop a roadmap that makes Hoboken's streets, sidewalks, and public spaces safer and more welcoming for everyone.”

According to the city, the robots will be supervised at all times and are designed for shared public spaces, yielding to pedestrians on sidewalks. The city said the robots collect engineering data related only to pedestrian infrastructure and do not store personal information.

Residents who encounter a Daxbot are encouraged by the city to take a selfie and tag @CityofHoboken and @idigdax, but they are asked not to obstruct the robot while it works.