Russia Develops Uniform Traffic Rules for Delivery Robots, Limiting Their Speed

The draft resolution, coordinated with several ministries and agencies, defines a three-year experimental legal regime (EPR) for delivery robots (rovers) in 35 Russian regions. Under the rules, robots are prohibited from using narrow sidewalks, must yield to pedestrians, and are allowed to enter buildings and use elevators. On sidewalks, the speed limit is 10 km/h, on bike paths up to 25 km/h, and within two meters of a road or when crossing it, the speed must not exceed 6 km/h. Robots must have a sound signal, and if involved in an accident, the owner must provide police with footage from the onboard camera, including 10 seconds before and after the incident. The technical requirements include maximum dimensions of 110 cm in length, 80 cm in width, and a mass of up to 120 kg without cargo, with an electric motor no more powerful than 4 kW. The experiment involves Yandex and Sberlogistics, and the fleet of rovers is expected to grow to 12,000 units by the end of the three-year period.