OLYMPIA, Wash. — With little more fanfare than the soft buzz of its motor, a new kind of vehicle rolled down a concrete ramp before onlookers at the Washington State Capitol Monday: A delivery robot designed for carrying packages to consumers' doors.
Along with the demonstration, a bill has also been introduced to regulate the autonomous devices, even as retail giant Amazon has already begun tests in the state.
[ >> Related: Amazon testing delivery by self-driving robots in Snohomish County ]
The bill would restrict the weight of the robots, limit them to sidewalks, and require both insurance and active monitoring by a human.
Democratic Rep. Shelley Kloba said the bill would fill in a grey area in state law, adding speed and weight limits and requiring insurance.
The bill was scheduled for a public hearing Monday.
More news from KIRO 7