On 4th March 2025, Valeska Engesser successfully defended her PhD thesis titled "The Perception of Autonomous Delivery Robots as a Future Delivery Solution" at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The research sheds light on the potential of Autonomous Delivery Robots (ADR) as a solution for the growing challenges in urban mobility and transport. The research was supervised by Dr. Philippe Lebeau, Prof. Dr. Heleen Buldeo Rai, and Prof. Dr. Evy Rombaut.
In her thesis, Valeska addresses the pressures faced by the mobility sector due to the rapid expansion of e-commerce, traffic restrictions, and the increasing need for sustainability. Road transport, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, faces additional constraints from inefficiencies in last-mile logistics. ADR, pedestrian-sized robots designed to deliver goods autonomously, have emerged as a potential innovation to tackle these challenges.
Despite technological advancements, real-life experiences with ADR remain limited, making it difficult to fully grasp their potential. Valeska’s research bridges this gap by investigating how stakeholders across the logistics supply chain perceive ADR through real-world experiments. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the study evaluates factors such as trust, hedonic considerations, and performance expectancy, which influence the adoption of ADR.
The research also highlights important elements related to human-ADR interactions, ADR design and behavior, traffic system integration, and service quality. By offering practical insights into the challenges and implications of integrating ADR into current logistics processes, the study contributes to a more sustainable and efficient last-mile delivery system.
Valeska's work adds to the theoretical understanding of technology acceptance in the context of ADR, paving the way for further advancements in the field of autonomous logistics and sustainable transport solutions.
Congratulations to Valeska on her successful defence and for contributing valuable insights to the future of urban mobility!