• Bloomberg reports that Walmart " is working with a robotics company to develop a shopping cart that helps customers find items on their lists and saves them from pushing a heavy cart through a sprawling store and parking lot."
The story says that such carts are seen as "an emerging opportunity for robotics companies as brick-and-mortar stores look for innovative ways to match the convenience of Amazon.com Inc. and other online retailers," according to Wendy Roberts, founder/CEO of Five Elements Robotics, a company that in 2014 introduced a "personal robot that can follow its user around inside and outdoors and carry things." That robot cost $1400 and was seen as particularly useful to people with disabilities.
Walmart did not comment specifically on the cart, but it has been investing heavily in technology initiatives designed to address whatever advantages Amazon is perceived as having in terms of logistics and supply chain.
The story says that such carts are seen as "an emerging opportunity for robotics companies as brick-and-mortar stores look for innovative ways to match the convenience of Amazon.com Inc. and other online retailers," according to Wendy Roberts, founder/CEO of Five Elements Robotics, a company that in 2014 introduced a "personal robot that can follow its user around inside and outdoors and carry things." That robot cost $1400 and was seen as particularly useful to people with disabilities.
Walmart did not comment specifically on the cart, but it has been investing heavily in technology initiatives designed to address whatever advantages Amazon is perceived as having in terms of logistics and supply chain.
- KC's View:
