Delivery Robot ‘Acting Erratically’ Nearly Crashed Into a Man with Cerebral Palsy

A man with cerebral palsy is advocating for accessibility for those with disabilities after a delivery robot cart nearly crashed into him on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Los Angeles. 

Mark Chaney was heading home on his mobility scooter when he encountered an “erratic” robot cart. As he tried to pass the robot, the robot allegedly blocked him and cut him off. The robot was moving at 3 mph.

“The robot had been acting strangely… I tried to give it lots of room to pass, and it cut me off. Then it hit the brakes right in front of me, and I bumped into it,” Chaney told KTLA. 

Chaney says that the robot nearly bumped into him earlier, before the incident in the footage, which prompted him to begin filming. He later posted the footage to Instagram and TikTok. 

Chaney alleges that the robot reversed into him, and that its movement caused his scooter to jolt backward. Serve Robotics denied this claim in the statement provided to PEOPLE, saying that the robot did not reverse — it “abruptly stopped” — and said that there was “a single instance of contact.”

“Within moments, the robot came to a full stop in response to sensing a pedestrian in close proximity, which is considered its fail-safe state,” per the statement. “Unlike humans, our robots have 360° visibility and are designed to anticipate and respond to objects approaching from behind to ensure safe and mindful interactions.”

In its statement to PEOPLE, Serve Robotics said, “After examining this incident, we learned that our safety system, designed to predict pedestrians’ intentions and yield right of way, instead caused the robot to impede their way.”

PEOPLE reached out to Mark Chaney for comment on Monday.

Chaney, who told the outlet he “was in a lot of pain that day,” said that Serve Robotics “brushed off” his complaint. “It felt like they were saying it was my fault.”

Chaney, who advocates for people who have disabilities, added that the delivery robots are “not as intuitive as people think.” Adding, “If you’re not testing them against wheelchairs, scooters or walkers, then you’re not designing for everyone.”

“At minimum, they need to include people with disabilities in the room when these systems are designed,” Chaney told ABC 7. “If we’re not there, it’s not built for us.”

He told KTLA that although he was using a scooter that day, it could have gone in a much worse direction if he had been on crutches. He explained that if he were using crutches, he would have fallen, and noted this isn’t “just inconvenient,” but could “mean weeks of recovery.”

Days after the incident, Chaney posted on Instagram with an update on Monday, Sept. 22. He wrote that Serve “stated there was an issue or malfunctioning with one of the sensors, based on a quote given to the news.” 

“I have sent them an email with some requests for change and accountability,” he wrote. “At the heart, I am an advocate and I want these emerging technologies to be safe.”

“I hope [Serve] responds back to me and works with me. I fear they might dismiss me or they will ride this out and just assume the pressure will die down and it will be forgotten and they can move forward,” he continued, before concluding, “Disability sometimes makes you feel powerless. truly hope for change. I could use good thoughts and thank you for all the support.”

Additionally, in Serve’s initial email response, the company told Chaney that they are “fast-tracking” the launch of an Accessibility Council in an effort to gain feedback from disability advocates.

The company is establishing the Accessibility Council and creating new roles, including outreach positions that will collaborate with communities who advocate for disability inclusion.

Serve also told PEOPLE that when the company began, they tested the robots with seniors, people who use wheelchairs and have mobility issues.

“We design our robots to not be an impediment to others, in particular to those with disabilities, and we regret when we do not live up to that,” the Serve statement said. “We are continuously working to improve how the robots navigate and interact with others, and will be implementing improvements as a result of this incident as well.”

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Chaney’s incident follows the Wednesday, Sept. 17 safety precaution, when a Serve Robotics cart briefly blocked a Los Angeles Fire Department fire truck in Hollywood, per KTLA.

The robot eventually cleared its path, and the fire engine was able to pass through. However, it remains unclear if the robot’s delays negatively impacted the LAFD’s emergency response.