Milton Keynes City Council has welcomed plans to bring a new autonomous delivery service to the city, further strengthening its reputation as a leader in innovation.
The city was the first in the country to host Starship's delivery robots and will now be among the locations selected for a new autonomous delivery service through a partnership between Coco Robotics and Deliveroo.
The city council has a long-standing commitment to supporting innovation and attracting investment in emerging technologies. As a growing city with a strong track record of trialling new ideas, Milton Keynes continues to draw organisations looking for places to develop and test technologies that could help shape the future of transport and services.
Autonomous delivery technology is being explored as a way to support local businesses, provide customers with greater choice and reduce some short vehicle journeys. Initiatives like this also bring investment into the city, create opportunities for local businesses and help strengthen Milton Keynes' reputation as a national testbed for innovation.
The fully electric robots are designed for short-distance, last-mile deliveries and travel at walking pace along pavements. Equipped with sensors and autonomous navigation technology, they can safely operate in busy urban areas while carrying orders directly to customers.
"Milton Keynes has a proud history of embracing innovation and giving new technologies the opportunity to be tested in a real-world setting. Being chosen for a second autonomous delivery trial highlights our reputation as a city that's open to new ideas and at the forefront of innovation.
"Projects like this help attract investment into Milton Keynes and create opportunities for businesses to grow and benefit from new technology. They also help us understand how innovation can improve everyday life for residents and customers, while supporting more sustainable ways of working and helping to reduce environmental impacts."