TOKYO To make convenience stores more convenient, a robot with a clip-like hand and enough intelligence to recognise popular beverages has been developed.
TX SCARA glided behind refrigerated shelves in a Tokyo store recently.
The end of its mechanical arm grabbed a bottle or can from the side stacks, then the robot slithered to the precise area and placed the beverage on the shelf. Its artificial intelligence and small cameras matched the kind of beverage to what was running low.
Related: Even as productivity plummets, North American businesses use robots.
TX SCARA is a major player in Japan’s “conbini” market, which sells snacks, beverages, and other things.
Most of these shops are open 24/7, stock more than 3,000 items, and have few workers. The back beverage shelves are farthest from the cashier, prompting personnel to hustle. The drinking area is chilled, so people don’t stay long.
Texas SCARA can refill 1,000 bottles and cans daily. Tokyo’s Telexistence says its AI, “GORDON,” knows when and where to place things on shelves.
“We’ll automate repetitious human chores. We’re taking this class. CEO Jin Tomioka said robots are the best method to achieve this.
Tomioka’s 50-person firm sees possibilities in warehouses and home centres. Factory robots are prevalent. His robots are cheaper than industrial robots like those used in auto factories, but they may be just as important for social needs because they coexist and interact with humans, helping with simple tasks.
Tomioka’s robots work with existing retail layouts and operations. Their method employs GPU-accelerated AI to remotely run Microsoft Azure.
A Telexistence operator may solve issues, such as a spilt drink, using virtual reality glasses.
300 of Japan’s 16,000 FamilyMart stores sell TX SCARA. Japan has 40,000 more convenience shops than the U.S.
The ageing population will increase Japan’s labour shortage in the coming years.
Related: An electromagnetic robot that travels 70 times its size per second.
FamilyMart CEO Tomohiro Kano described a dire situation as “seeking even a cat’s paw for rescue.” “FamilyMart needs a robot arm”
While smart robots map disaster zones and help surgeons, TX SCARA stocks tea and orange juice.
While viewing the robot, Taisuke Miyaki glanced towards the drink shelf. He typically buys bottled Jasmine tea at FamilyMart, but he hadn’t seen it.
