Autonomous delivery robots are taking to the streets of Europe

Bolt is using Starship Technologies robots to deliver meals and groceries in Estonia. — AFP Relaxnews

These small vehicles are powered by artificial intelligence and are designed to deliver your groceries or take-out. And while trials of autonomous delivery robots have proliferated in the United States in recent years, they are now gathering pace in Europe too.

Imagine the scene. It’s Saturday evening, time for the final preparations before your guests arrive, when suddenly you realise that you’re not only missing eggs but that you’ve forgotten to get fruit juices for the kids, not to mention their favourite potato chips. With a few taps on your smartphone, you could order the missing items in no time and have them delivered, not by a courier, but by an autonomous robot!