Urban Robotics by Stealth
How are robots changing our cities and daily life? From self driving taxis to global urban stories, explore what is happening now and what comes next.
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.
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
Guest:
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.
Credits
- Guest: Professor Aidan While (Professor of Urban Planning at the University of Sheffield)
- Podcast Production, Presentation & Editing: Tom Goodfellow (Professor of Urban Studies and International Development at the University of Sheffield)
- Podcast Production, Presentation & Editing: Beth Perry (Professor of Urban Epistemics at the University of Sheffield and Director of the Urban Institute)
- Post-Production Editing & Marketing: Polly Clifton (Student at the University of Sheffield)
- Training & Production Support: Jack Clayton (Creative Media Service Support Adviser at the University of Sheffield)
- Distribution, Promotion and Marketing: Vicky Simpson (Research Manager at the University of Sheffield)
- Podcast Cover: Dan Farley Designs
- Music: Horizon (Music by Tom Goodfellow, Recorded & Produced by Alan Thomson), Falling Down (Music by Tom Goodfellow, Performed by the Dice, Produced by Alan Thomson)
- Special Thanks: Supported by the Faculty of Social Science and the Creative Media Suite at the University of Sheffield