Smokey, Bandit, and the Future of Sidewalks in Irvine, CA

How two robots are helping the city map accessibility needs, with a nostalgic nod to a Burt Reynolds classic

If you’re strolling around Irvine, California anytime soon, don’t be surprised if you bump into Smokey or Bandit. Not the mustachioed Burt Reynolds and his Pontiac Trans Am from the comedy classic Smokey and the Bandit, but rather two sleek little robots roaming the sidewalks with an important mission: making the city more accessible for people with disabilities.

The Orange County city, like all cities in the United States, must ensure its public sidewalks and curb ramps meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards. Smokey and Bandit are scanning nearly 1,000 miles of walkways and over 9,000 curb ramps, according to a recent press release.

Outfitted with high-tech sensors, they measure cracks, slopes, and pathway widths with precision, down to the centimeter. In addition to their playful names, the robots could be considered local sheriffs in hot pursuit of sidewalk improvements.

Their data feeds into a comprehensive accessibility heat map. Within about six months, city leaders expect to have a clear picture of where upgrades are most urgently needed. It’s a modern solution to an age-old problem, and Irvine is among the first cities in the nation to try it.

From the Z Channel to ADA Compliance

The robots’ names, Smokey and Bandit, are a playful nod to the 1970s Burt Reynolds movie. For mediator and disability law professor Christopher Knauf, that’s more than just a quirky reference. As a kid, Chris watched Smokey and the Bandit over and over again with his childhood friend Steve on the old Z Channel, a memory that dates him but also adds a bit of heart to this otherwise high-tech tale.

Every time Smokey and Bandit cruise down Irvine’s sidewalks, Chris will be rooting for them to work productively with the Irvine “Sheriff” and their state-of-the-art sensors, making the world more accessible for everyone.

What Robots and Mediation Have in Common

At first glance, these helpful robots mapping sidewalks and mediators resolving disputes might not seem connected. But here’s the link: both are about creating smoother paths forward. Just as Irvine is using technology to help clear obstacles, mediation helps clear communication roadblocks so people, litigants, and businesses can move ahead with less time, expense, and potential harm.

Like Smokey and Bandit helping fix cracks in Irvine sidewalks, Prof. Knauf can help you smooth the cracks in any dispute and move forward!

If you’re facing a dispute, whether personal, business, or community-related, consider taking the first step toward resolution. Set up a free call at ADA-Mediation.com or Mediations.Pro.