The vehicle, based on United States military hardware and input from Australian defence contractor, Marathon Robotics and other advisers, was a four-wheeled vehicle with compartments "built to keep the customer's order piping hot and drinks cold whilst travelling on the footpath at a safe speed from the store to the customer's door".

It was able to navigate from a starting point to destination, selecting the best path of travel, the marketing said. "His on-board sensors enable him to perceive obstacles along the way and avoid them if necessary."

Domino's wants to spin its robot wheels in New Zealand, where law covering the rollout of driverless technology is less rigid. Australia allows testing of semi-autonomous vehicles but not the unguided type that Domino's has in mind.

It hoped to start an DRU trial in this country in the first half of 2017, Bush said