As the UK faces another night of freezing conditions, Just Eat delivery robots have been ploughing through the snow to ensure hungry folks in Milton Keynes receive their favourite takeaway.
Passers by have been capturing footage of the robots on the icy streets in the city, with some even helping to wipe the snow away so they can continue safely on their delivery mission.
Dubbed ‘Snowbots’, due to their defiance of the Beast from the East, the six-wheeled machines were first trialled by Just Eat over a year ago to help its restaurant partners meet demand during peak times.
The robot has sophisticated obstacle detection. It uses radar, nine cameras and ultrasonic sensors to detect obstacles, whether it be a dog, car - or a snowman.
A spokesman from Just Eat said “While the Beast from the East and Storm Emma have caused major chaos and travel disruption this week, we’ve seen a flurry of orders as freezing Brits turn to a takeaway to keep warm.
“We know our customers love nothing more than ordering their favourite dishes from their favourite local restaurant, in the comfort of their own home, and we’ve been determined not to let them down. Our ‘snowbots’ have done a great job in battling the elements.”
· The robot weighs 20kg empty and the delivery compartment can hold up to 10kg, the equivalent of or three shopping bags.
· The robot can drive up to 10 mph but we are keeping it to 4mph in accordance with UK law.
· The robot acts like a pedestrian. It operates on the pavement, takes up as much room on the pavement as a pedestrian, and matches pedestrian speeds.
· The robot uses a mixture of GPS and Computer vision to pinpoint its exact location to the nearest inch.
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