The robots are currently undergoing final tests ahead of the August opening of the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbeth, Stirlingshire, but once complete they will carry out duties such as transporting clinical waste, delivering food, cleaning the operating theatre and distributing medication.

The robots will even have their own dedicated network of corridors underneath the hospital.

Managers said the robots would not replace humans and experts think they will be great for controlling infection – robots will be divided into carrying out  ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ tasks with each team having their own lifts and corridors to avoid the risk of cross-contamination.

Hospitals in Japan, France and the US already use the state-of-the-art technology.