Some activities of robots is to accompany or help human beings in their movements on the sidewalks of cities, but on the sidewalks there are many incidents that must be overcome in order not to have or generate accidents.
A team of researchers from Stanford University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a robot they have called Aliengo that is capable of moving along sidewalks where humans circulate and avoiding obstacles in its path.
We have to bear in mind that all kinds of unforeseen events happen on a sidewalk and that reacting to them is not an easy task. Hence the importance of this development.

The robot control algorithm has been developed in phases. First a neural network has been placed in simulation environments, and in the second stage they have provided data from the real world.
This is said very easy but doing it is very complex and is available to few.
You can see a video with some of the tests they have carried out and the operation is quite correct although they still have some aspects to polish.
Video: https://youtu.be/JsAZy3YETwQ
I find this application very interesting because robots with these capabilities can be used to deliver products, to monitor inhabited areas both indoors and outdoors, etc….
The applications can be multiple, and the more they are used, the more new applications will be found.
I am very clear that robots and robotics have a very positive future.