Co-op’s delivery robots “with a mind of its own” rammed into a dog walker and his dog, according to reports.
Despite being programmed to avoid collisions, it smashed into Brian Dawson’s dog Pippa and, after the dogwalker kicked the machine, it rammed into him, The Sun reported.
After the tussle, Dawson, a Tesco delivery driver by trade, pushed the robot back upright, forcing it to retreat to its Co-op branch in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
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The bots, built by US company Starship Technologies, are a familiar sight in the city after ongoing delivery trials. The convenience retailer has been rolling out the delivery robots in a number of UK cities recently, including Manchester and Cambridge.
Brian Dawson told the newspaper:“It’s supposed to be programmed to stop if obstructed but its sensors clearly weren’t working and it seemed to have a mind of its own.
“I ended up shoving it on to its side — but that triggered its alarm and it started making a terrible racket.”
8 Comments. Leave new
You don’t find it ironic not a delivery driver is blaming a delivery robot?
You don’t find it ironic that a delivery driver is blaming a delivery robot? I think I would give the robot the benefit of the doubt.
There are always some numpty “Victims” that think Kicking it is an intelligent approach.
Truly right!
I guess there are two possibilities and one of them is that this robot randomly attacked a person who’s job is being displaced by said technology.
Why attack it? Why not give it some space?
I see lots of these and they always stop if someone is near. Sounds like this man was deliberately trying to be a vandal.
If it had hit my dog I would have removed its wheels.