Elbowing your way through crowds can be slow going, but our ability to weave and dodge through a throng of people comes almost as second nature.

For robots, however, this simple task can prove a major obstacle that currently limits their usefulness in public places.

But now, a team from Stanford University says it has managed to create droid which is able to navigate down streets without mowing down people walking in the opposite direction, which make them better at making deliveries.

he robot has been named 'Jackrabbot' in honour of the jack rabbits that run around Stanford's campus.