Amazon Go, the retail giant’s next-generation store currently being trialled in the US, has moved a step closer to its UK debut after a number of Go-related trademark applications were approved.

Earlier this week the UK Intellectual Property Office approved the applications which were filed in December last year, fuelling speculation of the imminent arrival of Amazon Go stores in Britain.

Customers of Amazon Go, which is being trialled in Seattle, do not need to queue or pay at a till to walk away with their shopping. The store uses technology similar to that used in self-driving cars – computer vision, sensor fusion and deep learning. Amazon’s ‘just walk out’ technology automatically detects when goods are taken from or returned to the shelves and keeps track of them in a virtual cart.

There is no requirement for an in-store checkout process; customers only need to download the Amazon Go app on their mobile device beforehand, and can then simply leave the store with their goods. Shortly afterwards their online Amazon account will be charged and they will be sent an e-receipt.

Back in February, The Times newspaper reported that the online retail giant is currently looking at about two dozen sites across the UK for the bricks and mortar store, but Amazon has so far declined to comment.

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