An employee from a coffee shop subscribed to Yogiyo places a basket of drinks inside an autonomous driving robot developed by Neubility, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Yogiyo

Yogiyo has introduced the country's first autonomous delivery robots, the food delivery service operator said, Monday, amid expectations that the new technology will help boost the delivery market in areas facing labor shortages.

The delivery robot service started in Incheon's Songdo on the day and the operator plans to expand the service area gradually. Restaurant owners subscribed to Yogiyo's online platform and those who order on the platform can use the robot free of charge.

In June, Yogiyo signed a memorandum of understanding with Neubility, a Seoul-based autonomous robot service company, to integrate the robots into its delivery operations.

The robots' travel range is limited to within 1.2 kilometers of their restaurant. Their driving speed tops 5.76 kilometers per hour and slows down in front of people or other approaching barriers or when the path narrows.

Jang Soo-baek, Yogiyo's chief technical officer, said that the robots are a sign of the ever-advancing autonomous driving robotic technologies in the country. He added that the company plans to spread the robotic delivery service to further regions beyond Songdo.

Neubility has the longest history of autonomous robot testing in the country. It in January acquired a license for safety driving in outdoor environments for the first time in the food delivery industry.

"We're pleased to share with the public the practicality and convenience our autonomous robots can provide," Neubility Founder & CEO Andrew Lee said.