A woman protesting autonomous delivery robots in Philadelphia was arrested after repeatedly blocking the path of an Uber Eats machine and refusing police orders to move.
Carolyn Marvin, a retired University of Pennsylvania professor, has spent months standing in front of self-driving delivery robots. She says her demonstrations are intended to protest what she views as the impact of corporations on public spaces and human delivery work.
The incident occurred on October 14 near Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, as Marvin was returning from a flu shot appointment. She stood in front of an Uber Eats robot until a crowd gathered and police arrived. Officers responding to a reported criminal mischief incident ordered her to move, but she repeatedly refused and was issued a disorderly conduct citation.
Uber Eats introduced autonomous delivery robots in Philadelphia in March 2026 through a partnership with robotics company Avride. The rollout has drawn opposition from residents concerned about pedestrian safety, privacy and the possible replacement of human delivery workers.
Pennsylvania law classifies autonomous delivery robots as pedestrians, giving them certain rights to use sidewalks while requiring them to yield to human pedestrians. Marvin told The Independent that she believed she had more rights than the robot.
Marvin said she usually blocks a robot for between 10 and 15 minutes, when she has the opportunity and enough spare time. She also argued that her actions are protected as a form of protest in public space and said she intends to continue blocking the robots.
Sources: Dexerto.