'I was attacked by a Co-op delivery robot after it rammed into my dog'

I was attacked by a Co-op delivery robot with a mind of its own after it rammed into German shepherd, claims customer

• Brian Dawson, 56, says the bot rammed into his dog and then struck his leg 

A dog walker was attacked by a Co-op robot despite the machine allegedly being programmed to avoid collisions, it has been claimed.

Brian Dawson, 56, says a shopping delivery bot rammed into his dog, Pippa, during an incident near a Co-op branch in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Dawson, a Tesco delivery driver, then kicked the droid and took Pippa ‘out of harm’s way’, The Sun reported. 

He shoved it onto its side which ‘triggered its alarm’ and made a ‘terrible racket’. Mr Dawson then forced the robot into an upright position before it allegedly retreated to the store.

The dog walker was left ‘furious’ by the incident and says he wants a serial number or QR code displayed on the droids so it is easier for customers to complain.

A dog walker in Milton Keynes claims he was attacked by a Co-op robot despite the machine allegedly being programmed to avoid collisions (stock photo)

Mr Dawson alleged the robot is ‘supposed to be programmed to stop if obstructed’ but suspects its sensors were not working properly.

‘It seemed to have a mind of its own,’ he said, adding: ‘What if it knocked a toddler in the road?’

He says he tried to complain to Co-op staff but was told by the manager that the robot was not his responsibility.

Co-op declined The Sun’s request for comment, reiterating that the bots are operated by Starship Technologies, the robot company launched by the co-founders of Skype. 

MailOnline has approached Co-op and Starship Technologies for comment.

Over the coronavirus lockdown, the popularity of the knee-high robots in Milton Keynes surged.

The shopping bots look like small white plastic boxes mounted on six wheels, kitted out with a bright orange flag that is lit up at night, so motorists and pedestrians can see them while they trundles around (stock photo)

The robots, which allow the delivery of groceries in as little as 20 minutes, even brought food for free to NHS workers. 

The shopping bots look like small white plastic boxes mounted on six wheels, kitted out with a bright orange flag that is lit up at night, so motorists and pedestrians can see them while they trundles around. 

The delivery robots were spotted in December forming an orderly queue to use a pedestrian crossing – with one asking a passer-by to press the button for them. 

Starship has previously said the robots are not ‘shy’ are happy to ask strangers for help when they needed it. 

WHAT ARE STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES’ DELIVERY ROBOTS?

The London-based company was created by Skype’s Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis in 2014.

The slow-moving delivery bots have already been trialled across the world, including in Hamburg, Washington and here in the UK delivering everything from groceries to takeout pizza.

They have travelled more than 100,000 miles in testing mode in more than 100 cities in 20 different countries.

Unlike robots designed to resemble humans, Starship’s bot is purely functional with a large compartment to hold deliveries, the equivalent size of two grocery bags.

Each six-wheeled ‘ground drone’ is completely self-driving.

Workers can drop a pin on a map (like Uber) to show their location and then select what food they want to order. 

Each vehicle is 55cm (22 inches) high by 70cm (28 inches) long.

It has a secured compartment where parcels with a maximum weight of 10kg (22 pounds) can be transported, accessible to consumers via a link generated by a smartphone app.

They have six wheels and can travel at speeds up to 4mph (6.4kmh) per hour.

They travel mainly on pavements, can go up curbs and operate in the rain and snow.  

The company has already carried out trials in a number of towns across England, including Cambourne, Milton Keynes, Northampton and Bedford.

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