Parcel delivery company Hermes is set to launch a self-driving delivery robot test programme in London, working in partnership with robot delivery vehicle specialists Starship Technologies.

The trial, which will take place in the London borough of Southwark, will initially see Hermes offering limited 30-minute time slots for the collection of parcels. In future, should the test work out, Hermes hopes the robots could offer ‘greater scheduling and tracking capabilities’.

This London-based trial follows on from a test carried out in August by Hermes Germany and Starship. The pair tested three delivery robots in the Ottensen, Volksdorg, and Grindel, suburbs of Hamburg.

Each self-driving vehicle is 55cm high, 70cm long, can carry a maximum weigh of 10kg, and travel at 4mph. The six-wheeled robot is locked by an electronic code, that is generated via a smartphone app, which must be inputted when the robot arrives at its delivery destination.

“Starship Technologies is a highly innovative and pioneering firm,” said Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes. “We are extremely pleased to utilise their expertise to explore exciting new ways that will further strengthen our portfolio of services and offer greater choice and convenience for customers.”

Hermes is part of a growing list of partnerships that Starship now has – having previously partnered with Domino’s, Just Eat, and DoorDash, to name a few.