Robotic Supermarket Employee
Future Vision
Mainstream media has influenced the narrative surrounding their vision of the future with advanced technology. Filmmakers have created films that portray situations in which robots dominate the job market. With the rise of AI technology, jobs in the retail industry may face significant changes. So far, there has already been an increase in self-checkout kiosks in supermarkets and restaurants.
It is now entirely feasible to have supermarket robots that offer more than just checkout assistance. Countries such as Japan and the United States have developed robots capable of mopping floors and scanning inventory. Chile has entered the competition by creating the nation's first robot that employs artificial intelligence to ensure supermarket shelves are functioning correctly.
Retail Technology
Zippedi is a Chilean startup founded by a group of scientists and postgraduate students in Computer Science Engineering. After three years of dedicated research, they created an AI-powered inventory robot along with a mobile application known as Zippedi. As highlighted in a 2019 publication, this robot operates as a collaborative chatbot platform designed for retailers and suppliers. It utilizes machine learning to monitor shelf inventory, control stock levels, reduce breakage, and effectively analyze sales, all while addressing the issue of phantom inventory.
Alvaro Soto, the engineering professor from UC who led the project, detailed the robot's features. He noted that it employs a navigation plan created from a map generated during its initial visit to the store, which is continuously updated in real-time as it encounters obstacles like parked cars or ongoing maintenance. The robot is equipped with visual perception systems that allow it to identify various sections of the supermarket and detect people and objects to avoid while moving around. At the conclusion of its work shift, the robot autonomously makes its way back to the charging station, connects to the electrical grid, and recharges its batteries in preparation for the next shift.
Point of View
Professor Sotot emphasized that Zippedi is not intended to take the place of supermarket operators. Rather, its purpose is to assist them in tackling potential errors such as detecting out-of-stock products or misaligned or defective products.
As of now the robot is utilized in the retail industry, not only in Chile but also in countries such as Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico.