Cute Robots Scan Whittier Sidewalks for Repairs

Daxbots map infrastructure issues to help the city plan maintenance.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:19am

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Small robots known as Daxbots are roaming the sidewalks of Whittier, California, scanning the ground to identify infrastructure damage that the city can use to plan necessary repairs.

Why it matters

As cities look to leverage technology to improve urban planning and maintenance, the use of autonomous robots to survey public spaces and identify issues represents a novel approach that could become more common in the future.

The details

The Daxbots, which resemble small wheeled robots, are equipped with cameras and sensors that allow them to map cracks, potholes, and other sidewalk damage as they navigate Whittier's streets. The data collected by the Daxbots is then used by the city to prioritize and schedule infrastructure repair projects.

  • The Daxbots began operating in Whittier in early 2026.

The players

Daxbots

Small wheeled robots equipped with cameras and sensors that scan Whittier's sidewalks for infrastructure damage.

Whittier, California

A city in Los Angeles County that is using the Daxbots to map and plan necessary sidewalk and infrastructure repairs.

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What’s next

The city plans to expand the Daxbot program to cover more areas of Whittier in the coming year.

The takeaway

The use of autonomous robots to survey public spaces and identify infrastructure issues represents an innovative approach to urban planning and maintenance that could become more common as cities look to leverage technology to improve efficiency and responsiveness.