South San Francisco Deploys Robots for Sidewalk Survey

Autonomous robots are scanning city infrastructure to identify accessibility barriers through late November.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Robotics

A small autonomous utility robot scans a concrete sidewalk near a curb ramp on a sunny day. — South San Francisco has deployed autonomous robots to scan sidewalks and intersections to identify accessibility barriers for ADA transition planning through November. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you support using robots to survey sidewalk accessibility in your community?

South San Francisco has launched a robot-assisted survey of city sidewalks to identify accessibility obstacles for residents. The project aims to improve navigation for individuals using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.

Why it matters

The collected data will directly support the city's Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. These findings will provide the necessary evidence to secure future grants and prioritize essential sidewalk improvements.

Equipped with advanced navigation cameras, each robot surveys eight miles of sidewalk daily at a walking pace. Two trailers stationed at Alta Loma Park currently serve as the central base stations for the survey equipment.

The players

Daxbot

This robotics company provides the autonomous units used for mapping and scanning the city infrastructure.

Bureau Veritas

This testing and certification firm is partnering with the city to facilitate the accessibility survey project.

South San Francisco Engineering Department

This municipal office manages local public works projects and oversees the current deployment of survey robots.

The details

Managed by the city Engineering Department, the project utilizes robots developed by Daxbot to capture data on sidewalks, curb ramps, intersections, and transit stops. The city is collaborating with Bureau Veritas to execute this digital infrastructure analysis.

The robot sidewalk survey began on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The project is expected to conclude on November 30, 2026.

The Tech Race

This deployment marks a shift toward utilizing autonomous robotics to fulfill the Americans with Disabilities Act Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan requirements. It reflects a move away from manual, labor-intensive infrastructure assessments toward digitized, data-driven municipal management.

Residents may encounter these autonomous robots moving at a walking pace on local sidewalks throughout the city until the end of November. Those with questions regarding the survey process can contact the Engineering Department at 650-829-6652.

The takeaway

Using robots to scan infrastructure allows cities to gather accessibility data with significantly higher efficiency than manual methods. Residents should remain aware of their surroundings when walking near these active survey units.