MOVING TOWARD ROBOT FRIENDLY CITIES

A FIVE-DIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN

Authors

  • Sung Jin Park SPARKCITY
  • Taeyun Lim SPARKCITY
  • Hyein Kim University of Utah Asia Campus
  • Yejin Kim University of Utah Asia Campus

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66838/sauc.6432

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence for Urban Policing, AI for cities, Urban Governance, Smart City Innovation, Smart Cities

Abstract

Advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, sensing, and robotics are accelerating the deployment of autonomous robots in streets, buildings, and public spaces. Yet existing research remains fragmented across robotics, human–robot interaction, architecture, engineering, and policy, leaving an integrated urban planning framework for human–robot coexistence underdeveloped. This study conceptualizes the Robot-Friendly City as an urban environment capable of accommodating autonomous robots while supporting safe, inclusive, and responsible coexistence with humans. Through a systematic literature review and thematic analysis, the study identifies and synthesizes key considerations for integrating autonomous robots into urban environments. The analysis identifies five interdependent dimensions: (1) physical and spatial environment, (2) environmental sustainability, (3) digital and technological environment, (4) social and human–robot interaction, and (5) governance and institutional arrangements. Together, these dimensions provide an integrated framework for understanding the urban conditions and design considerations associated with human–robot coexistence. By shifting the focus from adapting individual robots to existing environments toward considering how urban environments should accommodate robots, this study positions robotic integration as a multidimensional urban planning challenge and provides a conceptual foundation for future planning strategies and urban design guidelines for Robot-Friendly Cities.

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2026-09-30

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Park, S. J., Lim, T., Kim, H., & Kim, Y. (2026). MOVING TOWARD ROBOT FRIENDLY CITIES: A FIVE-DIMENSIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR URBAN PLANNING AND DESIGN . Street Art & Urban Creativity, 12(5), 516–537. https://doi.org/10.66838/sauc.6432

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Vol. 12 No. 5 (2026)

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Research articles

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