Rescue of upside down robot becomes hit on social media in Milton Keynes

Photos show one of MK's famous fleet flipped over onto its back next a city redway

A young man spots its plight and gently turns it over so it can resume its journey, trundling off down the path.

It is not yet known why the robot took took a tumble or if human interference was to blame. The photo shows no visible obstacles.

The robots, which are programmed to say 'thank you' if someone helps them, are equipped with highly complex sensors that usually help them avoid obstacles or falls.

But seeing a robot in distress certainly brought out unexpected emotions in the public...

"It made me feel surprisingly emotional to see the photo of the robot on its back with its little wheels up in the air," said one member of the public.

"I think everyone in MK is quite attached to these little dudes and it's not nice to see one in trouble. I'm just glad it was rescued," he said.

Starship’s electric-powered robots move at pedestrian speed, around six kilometres an hour, and weigh around 55 pounds.

They can usually navigate easily around objects and people and are equipped with sensor suites that include cameras, GPS inertial measurement units, ultrasonic sensors and radar. They use use feature detection of edges and mapping techniques to determine the suitability of the terrain on their route and plot any obstacles.

The robots have speakers so they are able to communicate with humans. They are also very well-mannered and say thank you in some situations.

"I spotted one stuck halfway up a pavement the other day. I gently helped it up and was amazed when it said a polite 'thank you' to me," said one woman.

A spokesman for the robot inventors, Starship, told the Citizen: "If people see a robot not moving, they shouldn’t do anything because we’re aware of where every single robot is to the nearest inch and it may just be having a rest. However if on the rare occasion someone sees a robot swimming or in any other odd situation then feel free to email [email protected] with the details."