Starship Technologies, a UK-based robot manufacturing company, has begun testing its autonomous delivery vehicles in the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

European food delivery company Just Eat; German parcel delivery company Hermes; German retailer Metro Group, and London food delivery startup Pronto.co.uk are testing the delivery vehicles.

Starship Technologies is a company launched in 2014 by Skype co-founders.

"Our aim will never change, to re-define convenience and customer service for the consumer, whilst making the last mile industry for businesses cost effective, efficient and profitable."

As part of its test runs, Starship has released dozens of autonomous delivery vehicles on the pavements of five major European cities.

Starship Technologies co-founder and CEO Ahti Heinla said: “By launching partnerships with major companies we will enter the next phase in our development.

"While Starship has been testing the robots in 12 countries in the last nine months, we will now develop know-how on running real robotic delivery services.”

The autonomous vehicles designed and developed by Starship Technologies will be used by companies for delivering packages, groceries and food to consumers within a range of two to three miles from its control centres.

Starship Technologies chief operating officer Allan Martinson said: “The partners we’re working with are at the top of their game, passionate, driven and quick to embrace new technology, making them the perfect choice for us to truly demonstrate our robotic delivery solution.

“We’re sure to come up against challenges on our journey, but our aim will never change, to re-define convenience and customer service for the consumer, whilst making the last mile industry for businesses cost effective, efficient and profitable.”

Introduced in European and American cities last year, the robotic vehicles have already driven close to 5,000 miles and met over 400,000 people without a single accident.