The Robot in Our Path: Investigating the Perceptions of People with Motor Disabilities on Navigating Public Space Alongside Sidewalk Robots

Sidewalk robots are becoming increasingly common worldwide, yet their operation on public walkways presents challenges for pedestrians. This is especially true for people with motor disabilities (PWMD) who already manage obstacles such as inadequate ramps and public incivility. The addition of sidewalk robots could further intensify these difficulties, which poses an urgent need to examine how the design of sidewalk robots may influence the daily navigation experiences of PWMD.