Uber Eats delivery robot in Philadelphia gets roughed up but keeps going

A sidewalk delivery robot kept rolling through Philadelphia − even after someone sat on it and graffiti was scrawled across its shell, video shared online shows.The robot, designed by Avride and used by Uber Eats deliveries in some cities, appeared unfazed in footage recorded March 14 by photographer HughE Dillon, underscoring growing public ambivalence about robots operating on city streets

"Honestly thought it was done for," Dillon wrote on Instagram. "One wanted to throw it, another sat on it. another person wrote destroy me on it... Then it calmly rolled on its merry way."

What kind of robot is in the video?

The sidewalk robot is made by Avride, which announced a multiyear partnership with Uber in 2024 to deploy delivery robots and autonomous vehicles for Uber and Uber Eats. In cities where the robots operate, customers can request them to deliver food through the app.

USA TODAY contacted Avride for comment.

But the emerging tech isn’t winning everyone over.

Video recorded by Philadelphia photographer HughE Dillon shows a person sitting on the robot as it tries to roll through a crosswalk. The person eventually stands up − and the robot, seemingly unfazed, keeps moving. At one point, the words “Destroy me plz” appear scrawled across the machine.

The clip sparked plenty of reaction online.

“I’m honestly surprised someone didn’t try and open it and take the food,” one commenter wrote. Another called it “brave” for the company to roll the robots out on city streets.

However, some people came to the robot's defense.

"I think that little robot is cute and fun to see," one commentor wrote: "People just complain about anything. Maaannnn!!!! Just be happy and leave that lil robot do its job."