Domino's launches Domidog - the K9 robot delivering pizzas to you on the beach
Although the pizza pup won't replace traditional drivers, the prototype is being launched this summer to protect against swarms of seagulls who swoop on food at seaside hotspots.
The brand designed the fun robot pooch alongside research, which put seagulls in the top 10 things that bother Brits the most at the beach.
It emerged that one in three admit they have fallen foul of the boisterous birds who circle the skies and swoop for food, according to 1,500 polled who visit the seaside.
Meanwhile, 59% wish there were a way to easily protect their snacks from seagulls when at the seaside.
Domino's creates robot dog to deliver pizza at seaside locations
Izzy Gardener from Domino's said: '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.
What annoys you the most when visiting the beach? (Image: Joe Pepler/PinPep) 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.
From the research, when asked what grated their gears most about the greedy gulls, stealing food (61%) naturally topped the list, followed by their aggressive behaviour (50%).
With one in 10 going as far as to say the badly behaved birds have damaged their property, while 19% claim they'd scared small children, according to the OnePoll.com data.
Additionally, limited toilets (40%), big crowds (37%), and unruly dogs not on leads (17%) also made the top 10 list.
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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
Izzy added: '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.'
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