21. URBAN ROBOTICS BY STEALTH: Driverless vehicles, + Epstein, + Royals, + drug cartels, + immigration and more

In this episode Tom and Beth are joined by Professor Aidan While from the University of Sheffield to explore how robotic urban infrastructures are already reshaping everyday lives, homes and mobilities. 

From self-driving taxis to autonomous delivery drones the size of a lorry, we take a closer look at how experimentation in US cities, across Africa and now in the UK foreshadows the stealthy rise of robots across multiple domains.

Go straight to 37:33 for this discussion.

First in our radar, we cover:

• Leaflet wars in the Gorton and Denton by-election, Greater Manchester
• How space and stigma play out in the Epstein and UK grooming scandals
• What the UK Royal Family have to do with cities 
• Urban foundations & fallouts from the death of Mexican drug lord, El Mencho
• The promise of Spain's approach to regularising undocumented migrants
• How to better assess the vulnerabilities of regions and cities to the green transition

Guests:

Aidan While researches environmental and climate policy, urban technology and future cities, and the politics of planning in the UK and internationally.  This podcast draws on his ESRC project on Robotics as Urban Automation. He has written on sidewalk delivery robots, ecologies of automation, and regulating urban robotics.

Hosts:

Tom Goodfellow is Professor of Urban Development in the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester.  His research focuses on the political economy of urban development and change in Africa, particularly the politics of urban land and transportation, conflicts around infrastructure and housing, and urban institutional change. (linkedin.com/in/tom-goodfellow-0b418441) 

Beth Perry is Professor of Urban Epistemics and Director of the Urban Institute at the University of Sheffield. Her research focuses on the relationships between urban expertise, governance and justice, underpinned by a commitment to co-producing collective intelligence across multiple scales to address complex urban challenges. She has worked in cities in Africa, Europe and the UK. (linkedin.com/in/itsbethperry)

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Thanks to the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester for providing time, resources and equipment to support this podcast.