Domino’s has unveiled ‘Domidog’ – a robotic canine engineered to deliver pizza safely to beachgoers whilst fending off aggressive seagulls at coastal destinations. Whilst the mechanical mutt won’t be replacing human delivery drivers, this innovative prototype is set to launch this summer as a defence against the notorious flocks of gulls that plague seaside food lovers.
The brand designed the fun robot pooch following research that placed seagulls amongst the top 10 most irritating aspects of British beach visits. Insufficient toilet facilities (40 percent), overcrowding (37 percent), and unleashed dogs running wild (17 percent) also featured prominently in the survey of 1,500 seaside visitors.
The majority of people wished there was a way to easily protect their snacks from seagulls when at the seaside, as one in three confessed to having their food snatched in the pase.
Izzy Gardener from Domino’s declared: “Seagulls have claimed too many seaside snacks, and it’s time we did something about it.
“We’re always exploring new and innovative ways to keep your pizza as hot and fresh as possible on its delivery journey.
“That’s why we’re trailing Domidog this summer: a tech-driven answer to an age-old beach problem.”
Before turning pizza pup, the Boston Dynamics robot has proven its capabilities: supporting search and rescue operations, assisting bomb squads and advancing robotics research in human-robot interaction.
Now, it’s putting those same advanced systems to work on a new mission – guarding your pizza from airborne snack thieves
Complete with a hi-tech spec, it can autonomously navigate its environment using onboard sensors, stereo cameras, and advanced localisation technology. Other features like 360 degree perception also help it to effortlessly avoid obstacles while delivering.
The study revealed that when people were asked what annoyed them most about the pesky seagulls, food theft (61 percent) unsurprisingly came out on top, followed by their aggressive antics (50 percent).
Shockingly, one in 10 claimed these mischievous birds had caused damage to their property, and 19 percent reported that the gulls had frightened young children, as per findings from OnePoll.com.
Izzy Gardener from Domino’s commented: “Thanks to this prototype, seaside visitors will have a sure-fire way to keep slices safe and secure at the seaside – without them heading off into the sky.”
TOP 10 THINGS THAT BOTHER PEOPLE AT THE BEACH:
- Lack of toilets nearby
- Crowded beaches
- Litter
- Expensive/limited parking
- Seagulls
- Dogs off the lead
- Strong winds
- Getting sun burn
- Limited parking
- Sand in food
