A company offering a fleet of popular autonomous delivery robots has revealed that business has quadrupled during the last 'game-changing' year of the pandemic.
Starship Technologies launched their quirky UK robot operation three years ago in Milton Keynes, with a fleet of 100 of the machines delivering groceries and takeaway food to customers around the town.
Residents have said the electric robots - which are programmed to say 'thank you' if someone helps them - have become a beloved feature of the town, with many people always keeping an eye out for them.
READ MORE: Man charged with drug crimes as well as breaching a court order following warrant
The robots can been seen all over Milton Keynes (SWNS)
But now, San Francisco-based Starship Technologies have revealed the robots have gone global - and that business has boomed during the last year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As of this week, the little robots have surpassed the milestone of 1.5 million deliveries worldwide - with one million of those being made since June 2020.
In the last four months alone, Starship robots have made 500,000 deliveries - after making their millionth delivery on January 27, in Ohio, USA.
READ MORE: Have you seen Milly Moo Moo? Concerns grow as French Bulldog is reported stolen
The business was founded three years ago (SWNS)
Ahti Heinla, co-founder and CEO of Starship Technologies, said: "This past year has been a game changer for autonomous delivery, moving adoption ahead by years.
"When we launched commercial delivery three years ago, we didn't expect to be at the point we are today.
"We marked the significant milestone of one million deliveries in January 2021 and we've since surpassed 1.5 million deliveries.
"These rapid developments have also helped us scale the business, so we can provide a lower cost of delivery than any other option available."
Lots of robots can be seen across Milton Keynes (SWNS)
READ MORE: 'Asda Angels' help schoolgirl buy a book after she loses her birthday money in store
In the last 12 months, Starship has partnered with 40 independent merchants in Milton Keynes and Northampton, and the little robots can frequently be seen outside Co-op stores and Costa Coffee branches.
The electric-powered robots can carry up to two full grocery bags of shopping, making them perfect for shoppers who just need to buy the basics, like milk or bread.
They move at pedestrian speed, around six kilometers an hour, and can navigate easily around objects and people - making more than 80,000 road crossings every day.
The robots will even detect if someone is in their way, and stop and wait for them to pass.
They are also programmed to say 'thank you' if someone helps them.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here