Delivery Robots Will Need a Permit to Operate in San Francisco

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Postwoman Cindy Rexrodt presents the self-propelled electric robot 'PostBOT' prototype of the Deutsche Post DHL Group for the mail and parcel delivery after a press conference in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. The robot should relieve the staffs of their heavy physical work during this German-wide pilot project. The robot can carry loads of up to 150 kilograms. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Delivery robots will need a permit to operate in San Francisco after the Board of Supervisors approved new legislation in their Tuesday meeting.  Supervisor Norman Yee had proposed an outright ban of the robots, but compromised with the permitting system.  Only nine delivery robots will be allowed to operate within city limits at a time.  Human operators must be present with the robots, which can only travel at three miles per hour.