Carolyn Marvin was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after she blocked the path of an Uber delivery robot in Philadelphia and refused to move out of its way, according to police and her own account of the incident.
Marvin told Philadelphia’s ABC13 that she has been protesting the machines because she believes they are taking jobs away from human delivery workers, and that she had been standing in front of them to stop them from moving forward whenever she saw one.
Officers who responded to the scene asked Marvin to step aside so the robot could continue on its route. She declined, and police placed her in handcuffs and took her into custody. Video of the arrest has circulated widely and drawn considerable media attention.
The arrest is not Marvin’s first encounter with the delivery robots. Earlier this year, one of the devices was kicked over in Center City, and the machines have become a familiar sight on downtown Philadelphia streets while also provoking backlash from some residents.
The episode reflects broader concerns about how autonomous systems are affecting employment, particularly for lower-skill workers. Alongside delivery robots, the debate has taken in robotaxis and AI agents, with questions raised about the effect of such technology on jobs in the United States.
Uber, which operates the delivery robot involved in the incident, has not commented publicly on the arrest in the reporting available. The charge against Marvin is disorderly conduct, and the case has become a focal point for residents and observers who disagree over how the city should handle the spread of automated delivery equipment on its sidewalks.
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